Grades K-4

Tutorial 2. Zero waste grocery shopping

In Tutorial 1 you read about changing habits that will help you and your family use 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 lots of things your family can do when you shop for groceries to make sure you don’t end up with more food than you’ll eat. Plus, your family will save money when they only buy what they need. 

Spending a little bit of time to plan for your grocery trip may be the most important thing you do to reduce food waste.  You can’t waste what you don’t buy.  

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

• Shop for fruits and vegetables (produce) grown in your area. This is called “locally-grown”, and it has lots of benefits. The produce is usually cheaper, tastes better, is fresher and keeps longer because it doesn’t have to travel very far. Most grocery stores carry 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 locally-grown produce. 

Tip #4: Keepin’ it fresh 

• Buy foods that spoil easily in smaller amounts, such as produce and dairy.
• Store some foods 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 dates.

Zero waste means zero waste
When shopping for groceries, it is important to to reduce all types of waste. One common type of waste found at grocery stores is  the single-use grocery bag. 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

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

You are the food ambassador of your household. Your job is to help your family follow the tips you've learned in this activity to reduce food waste. You probably can’t do all of these tips on your own, so ask your family to do them as well, such as making a shopping list or going to the farmers market. 

1. With an adult in your household, choose one of the five tips to try for an entire month. If you chose to make a grocery list, you may want to use this helpful weekly meal planning template. It may seem like a huge task, so start with planning the meals for just one day of the week and then challenge yourself to see how many more days you can meal plan with your family.  
2. Take an inventory of the food in your kitchen using this template. ​Write down the item, quantity (how much/many), and “use by” date. Use this list as a guide to help you and your family 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. We can use them in Tutorial 4. 

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