WHY WE’RE DOING THIS
Wasted food in landfills ROTS and becomes a significant source of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. 18% of all methane emissions in the U. S. come from landfills. Diverting wasted food from landfills reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
SO here’s the challenge: Keep a Food Waste Diary. Track the edible food you throw away by recording it after every meal (Peels, cores, bones, etc. don’t count, but hopefully are composted!). Keep track of what you threw out, how much, and where it went (Disposal? Drain? Garbage? Dog? Compost?).
Keep the Diary for at least two weeks and claim your prize–Mitchell’s Ice Cream gift certificate or books–at the Food Waste Celebration on April 24 in Fellowship Hall at 12:45 after the service and the Coming of Age Celebration. .
On Monday April 4, 2022 at 7 pm we are offering a special zoom meeting About Food Too Good to Waste Project, why food waste is a problem and what your can do. Please join! The discussion Zoom link is here
Meeting ID: 841 8085 6372
Passcode: 056658
If you decide to Keep a Food Waste Diary please let us know you’re doing it by registering here
WARNING: The results may shock you!
WHAT TO RECORD
• Meal/Snack – Which meals create the most garbage? List your wasted drinks, too.
• Food – What foods are thrown out? Salad? Cereal? Egg sandwiches? If you find spoiled milk or rotting fruit in your fridge, make a note of this under Other.
• Amount – Write down wasted quantities either by volume or weight.
• Where did it go? – Record how that food was disposed of, even if leftovers were fed to a pet. Did you drain 1⁄2 cup of coffee down your sink? Compost an apple? Chuck some stinky tuna fish in your garbage bin? Use the garbage disposal or the trash can?
• Reason – List why you’re throwing away your food. Too many dinner leftovers? Lunch tasted terrible? Not enough time to finish breakfast? Bananas went brown? Expiration date passed?
• Cost– Estimate the money you blew tossing away this food. Crying is allowed. Be totally honest with yourself while doing this exercise. You’ll benefit most by tracking what’s really hitting the trash can, not what you wish wasn’t wasted.
Get 7-Day Food Waste Diary at https://www.squawkfox.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Food-Waste-Diary.pdf
REVIEW YOUR RESULTS
STEP ONE: Find the pattern.
Review your diary to see what, when, and where food is being wasted. Is there a particular food that’s tossed regularly? Perhaps a meal is often composted? Add up the cost column to calculate your financial loss.
STEP TWO: Recognize the reasons.
Knowing why your food is tossed can help avoid the situation in the future: Made meals too big? Poured too much milk for the kids? Bought too much bulk food to eat before it expired?
STEP THREE: Strive to improve.
What strategies can you employ to end the food waste in your household? Find out more about strategies in the UUCC Weekly Newsletter or by following this link: https://www.squawkfox.com/food-waste/.
STEP FOUR: Claim your prize.
Bring your documentation to the Food Waste Celebration on April 24, 12:45, Fellowship Hall.