Mackenna Kull

To keep bananas from browning quickly, break up the bunch and separate. Don’t store bananas with apples, which speed up ripening. If the stems came covered in plastic wrap, do not remove the plastic until ready to eat as this will slow the release of ethylene gas. I will properly store 10 bananas.

I will read about about state and federal legislation that can impact food waste reduction and recovery.

I will watch 3 Save the Food San Diego videos.

Missing an ingredient for a recipe? Check this list to find the best substitutes.

I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work or on campus.

Sign up for the San Diego Food System Alliance Newsletter to stay up to date on what's happening in the region

Utilize beet greens, carrot tops, and herb stems to make a delicious pesto, sauce, or dressing. I will try 2 root-to-leaf recipes.

I will share a Save The Food social media post.

Watch a Last Week Tonight with John Oliver episode on the topic of food waste and learn about the scope and scale of the issue.

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

Watch this video and get a glimpse of what is actually getting thrown away in our trash cans and dumpsters.

I will meal prep 4 meals.

I will plan an Eat the Leftovers night by creating a tasty “smorgasbord" or using a recipe that repurposes leftovers. I will eat 2 meals using leftovers.

Give leftovers a new life! For example, use leftover rice to make fried rice. I will try a recipe that repurposes leftovers 3 times.

For each day during the food waste tracking week, record your food waste. This action accepts one entry per day, so be sure to enter one total for food waste across all of your meals, or weigh all of your food waste once at the end of each day. Please use ounces for unit of measurement.

I will keep a fridge inventory to stay up to date with what I have in my fridge before I go grocery shopping.

I will not toss food once it is past the best buy date. "Expiration" dates misleadingly refer to quality, not safety. Use your senses and best judgement.

Bigger carts make us feel like we need to fill them! Use a hand basket to improve grocery store discipline and prevent over-purchasing.

Freeze fruits nearing their end and use in smoothies. You can even try freezing avocados (see Resource)!

Rescue limpy produce like leafy greens or carrots by soaking in an ice bath.

Those who grocery shop on an empty stomach spend 64% more than not-hungry shoppers. Resist impulse buys by shopping with a full stomach. Eat a snack or a meal before going grocery shopping.