Cut Food Waste at Home: 10 Easy Habits to Save Money and the Planet

**Tossing one chicken breast wastes the same water as a 30‑minute shower.**

- Plan meals, shop with a list - Use FIFO: first‑in, first‑out fridge rule - Freeze, pickle or blend near‑expiry produce

Food waste accounts for **8 % of global greenhouse gases** (FAO 2024) and costs the average family $1 500 a year.

1. **Inventory before shopping** 2. **Smart portions**—use a kitchen scale 3. **‘Eat‑me‑first’ box** in fridge 4. **Label leftovers** with date 5. **Freeze in portions** 6. **Blend tired veg** into soup 7. **Pickle scraps** (carrot tops, radish leaves) 8. **Compost unavoidable peel** 9. **Understand date labels**—‘best before’ ≠ ‘use by’ 10. **Share surplus** via food‑sharing apps

- **Save up to $25/week** on groceries - **Lower carbon footprint** (~140 kg CO₂ eq/yr) - Support local community through donations

| Myth | Fact | |------|------| | “Composting smells terrible.” | A balanced brown/green mix is virtually odour‑free. | | “Freezers ruin texture.” | Flash‑freeze on trays keeps quality intact.

👉 **Download our printable ‘Use‑Me‑First’ fridge label set**.

Small, consistent habits—meal‑planning, smart storage, creative leftovers—cut waste, save cash and shrink your climate impact.

1. FAO. *Food Waste Index* 2024. 2. WRAP. *Household Food Waste* 2023.