Get this.
While roughly 50 million Americans worry about their next meal, the rest of us discard enough food to feed them all. We live in a country where 40 percent of consumable goods are thrown away, or more than $100 billion worth, according to Jonathan Bloom, author of American Wasteland. Here, some ways you can make a difference:
Support change.
A new national study estimates that 73 percent of food waste from manufacturers currently gets turned into livestock feed. Some institutions—including MGM Resorts in Las Vegas, and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—are following suit, turning over dining-hall leftovers to local farms to feed the animals. To learn more about programs in your area, read about the USDA's U.S. Food Waste Challenge at usda.gov/oce/foodwaste.
Preserve more produce.
If your garden overfloweth, find a local pantry that will take homegrown extras off your hands at AmpleHarvest.org. Any fruits or veggies that are too far gone can be composted or donated to a composting program (participating supermarkets can save millions of pounds of waste per year). Find tips on how to get started on the US Composting Council's website (compostingcouncil.org).
Dine out with a conscience.
FeedingAmerica.org has info on food-recovery programs in your area—many will actually send trucks to the restaurants for pickup. The Food Donation Connection (foodtodonate.org) lists some of the country's biggest chain restaurants that participate in charity food programs. And if you have a doggie bag, visit Replate.org to learn about the food movement that encourages urban diners to place leftovers in bags on top of street trash cans, so those foraging for eats don't have to dig through garbage.
Shop smarter.
Plan your weekly meals in advance, make a list, and purchase only what you need. If you have leftovers, freeze whatever you don't plan to eat the next day. And donate any near-expiration items to a local food pantry.
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