This Earth Day, Resolve to Cut Food Waste

Hi all!  Happy Earth Day!  It's important that this day not get lost in all of the Pennysylvania primary hype, so bear with me while I chime in with some thoughts on how we can change our habits to benefit our planet.

Of course there are many, many things we can all do individually to reduce our impact on the environment.  Most Kossacks are well aware of them by this point.  But one thing I rarely hear about is the amount of food Americans waste each year and each day.

Be aware that when we buy food you do not end up eating, not only are we wasting the food itself, we are wasting the resources it took to grow the food--the land space, the water, the pesticides, etc..  Further, we are wasting the energy-slash-oil it took to transport the food to market, AND any resources involved in manufacturing the packaging, if applicable.

It's very difficult not to waste any food at all, especially perishables.  But attention to meal planning, keeping track of what's in your fridge, freezing, composting, and buying preserved food are all steps towards the worthy goal of minimizing food waste.  I also recommend trying to buy unpackaged food whenever possible--fresh and bulk, and reusing bags whenever possible.

It is my belief that if all Americans truly tried their best to waste as little food as possible our consumption of energy and other resources would be cut drastically.  Take a minute today to examine your own habits, and teach some good ones to your children.  It's a relatively easy way to make a difference.