Planning is key to avoiding food waste. If you buy no more than what you expect to use, you will be more likely to keep it fresh and waste less. Use these tips to take control over climate change today!

Make a shopping list

Make a shopping list with weekly meals in mind. How many meals will you eat at home? When will you go shopping next? Download this handy weekly shopping list(PDF, 252KB). Include the quantities you need on your shopping list to avoid overbuying. Don’t think you have time to plan meals and make a list? Try the free mobile app Cozi and other web-based tools to help make it easier.

Plan a weekly "leftovers night"

A night without having to cook – leftovers are great! Create a ritual in your household where everyone looks forward to a meal that they participate in reducing food waste. 

Buy fresh ingredients in smaller quantities

Buying fresh ingredients in smaller quantities helps prevent over-purchasing items that spoil faster. Choose loose fruit and vegetables over pre-packaged to better control the quantity you need and ensure fresher ingredients.

Prepare perishable foods soon after shopping. You’ll make it easier to whip up meals later in the week, saving time, effort, and money. When you get home from the store, wash, dry, chop, dice, slice, and place your fresh food items in clear storage containers for snacks and easy cooking.

Donate excess food

Feed people instead of your compost cart. If you have excess food and cannot freeze it, donate it instead of throwing it out. Consider donating to local friends and neighbors or help feed the hungry – 96,000 low-income adults in Santa Clara County are estimated to be food insecure. Contact the local organizations below for accepted items.

Local Donation Options

By storing food for maximum freshness, it will taste better and last longer – helping you to waste less. Use these tips to take control over climate change today!

Freeze what you can't eat in time

Use your freezer – if you can’t eat food in time, you can often freeze it for later. Befriend your freezer and visit it often. Freeze food such as bread, sliced fruit, meat, and leftovers that you know you won’t be able to eat in time.

Store food in clear containers

You'll eat what you can see, encouraging food use before it spoils. Glass mason jars in the pantry work great to keep your dried goods unhidden. Similarly, glass containers in the fridge or freezer helps clear up any confusion your household has about what's ready to get eaten.

Group similar items together

When possible, keeping similar items together can help them from getting lost and make planning meals and snacks easier. Consider organizing your fridge and pantry into breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack sections. Try different approaches to organizing your food that matches the way your household eats.

Fruit & Veggie Storage Guide   REFRIGERATOR Store ripe fruit and apples away from other produce  ●  Use bags or containers to prevent drying  ●  Wrap leafy greens in a moist towel and put in airtight container  ●  Loosely wrap herbs, other than basil, in a moist towel and put in an airtight container  ●  Wash items just before eating or cooking  ●  If you like your fruit at room temperature, take what you will eat for the day out of the fridge in the morning   COUNTER, THEN REFRIGERATOR Keep these items on the counter until ripe and then move to the refrigerator   COUNTER Keep bananas away from other produce  ●  Trim the ends of basil and place in a cup of water    PANTRY Keep these items in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place  ●  Store potatoes separately from onions to prevent sprouting   Download, print, and post the Fruit and Veggie Storage Guide(PDF, 885KB)  on your fridge!

Set your kitchen up for success by prioritizing foods that will spoil first. Being mindful of old ingredients and leftovers means you’ll waste less and may even find a new favorite dish in the process. Use these tips to take control over climate change today!

Shop your kitchen first

Use what you already have in your fridge and pantry before buying more. Watch our Freestyle Cooking Workshop led by a professional chef and learn how to cook creatively by "shopping" those miscellaneous ingredients and make something from "nothing."

Create a designated "Eat This First" area

Gathering items that need to be eaten first helps your household easily find what foods need to be prioritized. Create this space in your fridge and pantry by printing and placing the "Eat This First"(PDF, 76KB) sign.

Get to know your best-by dates

Did you know expiration dates listed on food products are actually describing quality and not safety. Most foods are safe to eat well beyond their expiration date. For example, eggs are often acceptable to eat up to 2-4 weeks after their printed expiration date. Learn the difference(PDF, 505KB) between “sell-by,” “use-by,” “best-by,” and expiration dates.

Use recipes to rescue food

There are some tasty dishes that make it easy to rescue fruits and veggies that are not as fresh. Casseroles, frittatas, soups, and smoothies are great ways to use leftovers and odds and ends. Search for websites that provide suggestions for using leftover ingredients. Here are a few to get you started:

Save The Food - Recipes  –  The Best Thing To Do With Leftovers   –  SuperCook  –  Big Oven 

Label containers with made-dates

Make labels containing the description and made-date with tape and marker, or even a wax crayon. This simple yet effective practice helps your household prioritize meals and ensure that your culinary creations are enjoyed before they spoil!