Person looking at a grocery list while shopping

Take Action: Plan

Better habits start with a plan

Good planning is the first step to reducing food waste. Before you head to the grocery store, here are some key planning strategies:

  • Make a weekly meal plan and a shopping list. 
  • Consider how many meals you will eat at home or eat out.
  • Shop your fridge and pantry first for food you already have. 
  • Buy only the things needed for each meal. 
  • Include quantities needed on your shopping list. 
  • Choose recipes where ingredients for one meal can be used in another. 
  • Keep a running tally of what you need to pick up as it runs out. A blackboard in the kitchen or a shopping list on the fridge is a handy way of doing this.
     
Vegetables at a farmer's market