Grades K-4
Tutorial 1. What's on your plate?
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Did you know that by eating healthy you can help the Earth be healthy, too? It is better for you and our planet when you eat lots of fruits and vegetables and less meat and dairy.
It’s not just what you choose to eat, but also what you DON'T eat that matters. Uneaten, wasted food is one of the causes of climate change. Climate change describes a change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region on Earth over a long period of time. The good news is it happens to be something we can control by starting a few new Earth-healthy habits. Food waste is a big problem
When your food waste goes into the trash it ends up going to the landfill. There it gets buried under all the other trash dumped. When the buried food begins to rot, it breaks down and forms an unhealthy gas called methane. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that gets trapped in our atmosphere and absorbs the heat of the sun, leading to global warming. This problem is one of the reasons the people in California’s government want to reduce food going to our landfills. |
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Lawmakers in California have recently required cities, businesses and schools to create a plan to take better care of their food waste. You might even see changes at your own school or favorite fast-food restaurant asking you to keep your food scraps separate as you throw out your waste items. This is so they do not get sent to the landfill.
But there are no laws that make people eat in a way that creates less food waste at home. Think about what goes into your kitchen trash. Is there any food that ends up in the trash can? In order to reduce food waste, we all need to adopt some new habits. Keep reading to learn how you can reduce the amount of food waste you and your family produce. |
Small shifts create big changes
Share these ideas to reduce food waste with your family and think about which ones you might try.
Plan Ahead
Discuss the meals you want to eat for the week with your family. This way, your parents won’t waste money and food on things you don’t like. Remember to also try new foods. You never know what you like until you try it.
New Life for Leftovers
If you notice some leftovers from dinner, ask your family to make something new out of them. Some items might go well in scrambled eggs. Others can be added to a soup. Brainstorm some new recipes, and write down which ones were the best.
Bruised but not Forgotten
When you see a bruised apple or an overripe banana, don’t throw it out! Overripe bananas are needed to make banana bread, and those apples can be made into applesauce.
It’s a Date
Did you know that foods have dates that tell when they may go bad? Sometimes the dates are not correct. The best way to tell if a food item is still good to eat is to “use your senses”. Usually, if something like milk or yogurt is spoiled, you can tell pretty quickly after taking a small sniff once it's opened. If you see mold spots or the produce appears mushy, it’s better in the compost bin than on your plate. Learn more about expiration dates.
Save it for Later
The way you choose to store your leftovers can reduce waste as well. Ask your parents to use clear containers when saving leftovers. Your family will be able to see what’s inside and be more likely to eat them.
Share these ideas to reduce food waste with your family and think about which ones you might try.
Plan Ahead
Discuss the meals you want to eat for the week with your family. This way, your parents won’t waste money and food on things you don’t like. Remember to also try new foods. You never know what you like until you try it.
New Life for Leftovers
If you notice some leftovers from dinner, ask your family to make something new out of them. Some items might go well in scrambled eggs. Others can be added to a soup. Brainstorm some new recipes, and write down which ones were the best.
Bruised but not Forgotten
When you see a bruised apple or an overripe banana, don’t throw it out! Overripe bananas are needed to make banana bread, and those apples can be made into applesauce.
It’s a Date
Did you know that foods have dates that tell when they may go bad? Sometimes the dates are not correct. The best way to tell if a food item is still good to eat is to “use your senses”. Usually, if something like milk or yogurt is spoiled, you can tell pretty quickly after taking a small sniff once it's opened. If you see mold spots or the produce appears mushy, it’s better in the compost bin than on your plate. Learn more about expiration dates.
Save it for Later
The way you choose to store your leftovers can reduce waste as well. Ask your parents to use clear containers when saving leftovers. Your family will be able to see what’s inside and be more likely to eat them.
Tutorial Challenge
Grab a grown up and look through your refrigerator and pantry. Talk about what you learned about not wasting food. Are there items in your house that might normally be thrown away?
- Look over these recipes and ask an adult in your family to help you make one.
- What new recipes using food scraps can you create to add to this list?
