Every March the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates National Nutrition Month by focusing on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The theme this year is Going Further with Food. The idea focuses around helping individuals manage food resources at home while also helping save both money and nutrients from ending up in the trash.

One of the most obvious reasons to prevent food waste is to prevent throwing away one’s hard earned money. Equally important, foods that go uneaten also result in wasted nutrients. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and seafood are often the most wasted food types due to their short shelf life. Throwing away these foods results in losses of important nutrients such as protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Preventing food waste in your home can be easy and will prove to be beneficial in saving money and keeping your family healthy. Use the following helpful hints to start making a change today:

1) Plan meals based on foods you already have on hand.

Look in your pantry and fridge and identify foods that need to be used up soon. Find recipes that use the ingredients you already have and write a list of ingredients that you still need to buy.

2) Buy only the amount you need.

Resist sales or other food-related temptations at the store if you know you and your family won’t eat it before it expires. Remember, a sale only saves you money if you actually use the item!

3) Prevent food spoilage.

It is important to wash produce immediately before using. Some produce is known to spoil more quickly if it is washed too far in  advance. It is also important to learn which produce should be stored in the refrigerator. Things like apples and oranges last longer in the fridge, while things like onions and potatoes last longer in the pantry.

4) Get creative with leftovers.

Transform last night’s dinner into something new like a warm soup, a crisp salad, or a tasty sandwich. The options are endless!