JENNIFER MEDINA

I will watch 2 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.

I will visit my nearest farmers market to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those who produce my food in other regions of the world to make better choices when I shop.

I will create an "Eat Me First" area in my fridge to prioritize food that needs to be used right away.

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.

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 donate extra food. If you or your work place are hosting a catered event and have trays of extra edible food, there is no need to toss it. With a little planning your celebratory feast can help feed others.

I will plan an Eat the Leftovers night by creating a tasty “smorgasbord" or using a recipe that repurposes leftovers. I will eat 3 meals using leftovers.

Use a portion size guide to ensure appropriate portions when cooking. I will cook 3 portion-appropriate meals.

The freezer is your friend! Store any leftover food in the freezer for a quick weekday meal or freeze fruits that are getting ripe to use for a delicious smoothie later. I will freeze 5 food item(s).

I will meal prep 5 meals.

Grains, nuts, and other dry goods are often sold in bulk bins that allow you to purchase only the quantity you need.

Purchase local, seasonal produce, which will likely stay fresh longer as it was picked more recently than supermarket produce.

Grocery shop more often, and buy fresh foods in smaller quantities.

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

20 billion pounds of fruits and veggies go to waste on farms every year, often because they don't live up to the cosmetic standards of grocery stores. Buy ugly produce at the grocery store, farmers market, or sign up for an ugly produce CSA box.

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.

Create a shopping list with specific recipes and meals in mind. Purchase only what's on the list when you do groceries.

I will use the Guest-imator to plan how much food to make for my upcoming dinner party with 8 guests.

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.