Grades 5-7

Tutorial 2. Zero waste grocery shopping

In Tutorial 1 you read about habits you can change to help your family make use of the food in your home so it doesn’t go to waste. Those tips are great for the food you already have, but there are also actions you can take when your family shops for groceries to keep from buying extra food. Not only will you prevent wasted food from potentially going to the landfill, but your family will also save money by purchasing only what they need. ​

Preparing for your shopping trip may be the most important thing you can do to wipe out food waste. You can’t waste what you don’t buy.  
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Discuss the tips below with the person in your household who is in charge of shopping. ​You can help them plan for waste-free grocery shopping. 

Zero waste shopping tips
​Read the five tips below with the adult in your household does the grocery shopping. ​

Tip #1: Stick to a list

• Shopping with a grocery list keeps you focused and helps avoid buying too much.​
• Plan your family’s meals for the week.
• Check your fridge and pantry to see if you already have some of the ingredients you need for each meal.
• Make a shopping list of all the ingredients you need to purchase at the store and stick to it. 

Tip #2: Shop with a full belly

• People who grocery shop on an empty stomach are more likely to buy too much food because they are hungry. 
• This is easy to fix. Have a snack before heading to the store to keep impulse buys to a minimum. 

Tip #3: Buy local 

• ​Out-of-season produce, by definition, must come from another region with a different climate than yours, and oftentimes those regions are across the globe. By limiting the amount of out-of-season food you buy, you’ll also help the planet by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions due to transporting food great distances.
• Shop for locally-grown fruits and vegetables. Locally-grown produce tends to be cheaper, tastes better, is fresher and keeps longer because it doesn’t have to travel very far. Most grocery stores carry in-season locally-grown produce. 
• Visit Main Street’s Farmers Market next to City Hall or sign-up for a local community supported agriculture (CSA) box stocked with in season produce. 

Tip #4: Keepin’ it fresh 

• Buy perishable foods such as produce and dairy in small quantities. Nobody likes it when their strawberries go bad before they have a chance to eat them.
• Store some perishables like meat and fruit in the freezer before they go bad. 

​Tip #5: Check the date 

• At the store, check the expiration date on the items you purchase. 
• If you need the food to last longer, choose the one that has the latest date. Grocers usually put the later expiration dates toward the back of the shelf.  
• If you know you will eat an item right away, grab the item with the earliest expiration date. This way, the store won’t have to dispose of it if everyone else picks the fresher version. Learn more about expiration date labels.

Zero waste means zero waste
When shopping for your groceries, it's important to remember to reduce all types of waste. One common type of waste found at grocery stores are the single-use grocery bags. Single-use means that it’s only meant to be used once and then recycled or thrown away. If you completed the Recycle Right activities, you already know that reusing items is better for the planet. Help your family remember to bring your reusable bags when shopping, whether you’re at the grocery store or local farmer’s market. ​

Restaurants are another place where you can reduce food waste AND single-use containers. You can help restaurants reduce their waste by:

• Bringing home your uneaten food and eating it later.
• Bringing a reusable container for your leftover food instead of taking a disposable one.  
• When ordering take-out, say “no” to single-use utensils, plates, and condiments. This cuts down on waste and saves the restaurants money, too!

Reusable bags during COVID-19

Due to safety concerns during the global pandemic, many grocery stores are not allowing reusable bags into their stores, but that doesn’t mean you have to bag your groceries in single-use bags. Have your groceries reloaded into your cart and pack them into your reusable bags at your car. 

Tutorial Challenge

1. Discuss the Zero waste Shopping Tips above with the person in your household that does most of the food shopping. Which of these practices does he or she already do? Which one is he or she willing to try? Commit to trying out one tip for an entire month. This useful weekly meal planning template can help in making grocery lists. 
2. ​Take an inventory on all the items in your kitchen using this template. Write down the item, quantity, and "use by" date. Use this list as a guide to help you decide when items should be eaten. Remember there are exceptions to the “use by” date. Learn more. If you find rotten fruits and veggies in your fridge, move them to the freezer. You can use these later in Tutorial 4.

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