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I've been living with my girlfriend for the past few years. We go to the supermarket for groceries 2-4 times per week, depending on our purchases and needs. I'm generally careful when picking items that will be consumed and not expire or go bad in my fridge and avoid going on a junk food shopping spree because not only is it a huge waste of money, but also because eating junk has no nutritional benefits.

My largest issue, however, is that I'm constantly finding myself throwing out food. It's not that we're making excessive purchases during our supermarket trips, it's just poor food management. I don't know what to call it. We'll buy a few apples, eat one or two the first two days, and then completely forget about the rest until they get bad and are thrown away. This is way more common when buying marmalade, toasts, and drinks in general. We're literally throwing a bag full of groceries at least once a month or two. Not only is it a shame, but it also costs too much money, especially in our day and age.

The worst part about food waste, though, is not the one occurring from individual consumers but from businesses such as hotels or supermarkets. Until recently, I was working for a large supermarket chain, you can't imagine how much perfectly good-to-eat food and supplies were thrown away either because they didn't look good for the customers or had damaged packaging. It's heartbreaking. If only such organizations bothered to give away these products to people and institutions.

How would you deal with food waste on a personal level, and what other action should be taken from businesses in order to reduce food waste? Do you have any tips you use? I can't see any more food expiring in my fridge, it's a huge waste of resources.

When it comes to things that are perishable, I don't stock up a ton.  For example, instead of buying a ton of apples, maybe just buy 2 or 3.  I have a lot of stock of canned foods and things like that, but apples as you mentioned, or things like bread and milk, I don't buy a ton of them instead opting to make more trips to the grocery store.  I hate throwing away food, and I'm also not a huge fan of trips to the grocery store, but I think if you are only there to grab a few things it isn't so bad.  Just starting thinking quality over quantity with your trips to the grocery store.  Maybe that super pack of potatoes is a great deal, but maybe you really only need 2 for dinner and not 40 for the next couple months.

That seems a bit excessive... once a week is the best I can manage :)

As far as advice, I don't think there is any magic in it, just takes a bit of planning and discipline - track what you typically consume and buy only as much perishable food as you will need until the next trip to the store. I also found that having a large freezer is a good tradeoff - it costs money to run but it can save a few trips to the grocery store and many fresh perishable items can be frozen without significant loss in nutritional value, so it helps reduce waste.

I wonder if you've noticed cultural differences in food waste. Where I come from, throwing food away is very frowned upon. We prepare only as much food as we need; we put only as much on our plates as we'll eat; and if leftovers happen we eat it the next day. Lots of people around us seem to think that's weird and that leaving half of the food on the plate is some sort of sign of wealth ("I can afford it"). To each their own I guess.

The issue is that even then, I just tuck them away in the fridge, never to be seen again. But generally, I try to be frugal and not purchase in huge quantities or buy products in large packaging, because most of the time, it'll simply go bad before it's consumed. I'm trying to limit junk food by switching to salads and fruits. Chocolates, chips, or bars because they are nutritionally worthless. They only provide you with a sugar boost, and that's it. Not only that, but a bag of chips costs something like €1.50-€1.50 and is consumed in a matter of minutes. I'd rather buy a few apples or bananas that'll get me going for a day or two.Hmm, maybe I'm over exaggerating, but it's at least 2 times per week, maybe even 3. I tend to purchase only a few things at once, those that I only currently need. Knowing myself (and my girlfriend) if we buy a ton of food, there's a good chance that some of it will end up in the bin. I don't have the tendency to leave food on my plate, but once in a while, there will be leftovers that'll be forgotten about and thrown away. It's sad.

Once a week is enough for grocery shopping and try to manage things by writing it down or making notes like how many perishable items you need for the week so that things won't go waste and try to use them sequence wise like use firstly the ones that are already in your fridge.  In our culture if we have excessive things in our fridge we share them with the less privileged or poor people as they have difficulty in buying those themselves ,in this way we help them and food won't go wasted. Wasting food is a bad thing and all of us should avoid that.

Food management is what also enrages me. This is not because I am greedy, but I just dont like to throw away food. It just pisses me off, when I had to go to supermarket, spend time in lines, carry those bags home, and then throw some food away, while there are people who are starving. Usually every 2-3 week I make a visit to fridge and food shelves to check what is close to due date, to throw it away. I just dont like all those open bags, cans, cut vegetables and fruits and etc. I just dont like to open fridge, see that it is full, but never find anything tasty :) Sort of full, but nothing to eat.

We have stopped bulk buying, but still I notice that a lot of food is thrown away. Like we are lazy to finish it, or producers make packages so huge, that it is impossible to finish it until you are full or it is spoiled. I would gladly hear some food management advices

Even I was a person as you mentioned in the oast but recently I am more concerned about health especially post covid and found how much food we waste and how much food we consume which are completely junk and can damage the health and made us to spend more money again for the medical expenses.

In general people don't buy the product they buy the brands because that is how the middle class people mind is tamed to show we are rich in the community, generally restaurants don't waste the uncooked foods because they keep it in freezer and lets cook for the next day so only cooked foods on events, etc, etc are wasted a lot and there are also organization in most places to take and give them to the needies so all we need is the communication and data network between them to achieve zero food waste.

It is good we understand our daily consumption rate and shop towards that. Make a list of what you consume everyday that are perishable,for instance If you always eat one apple a day and you go to the grocery thrice a week,mathematically you can buy two  apples per shopping and on the last day of the week you buy three apples demanding on your space interval. Three times is even much at least once a week, write the budget of the items on the list and make sure you know the quantity you will need. Non perishable items can be  preserved for a long time so this don't implies to them.

When cooking,have a measuring material that you use in measuring the quantity of whatever you want to cook,so that you don't cook too much or too small because you know your gauge,so that it can be consumed immediately. I was also wasting food but when,I practised this,it got limited

As for the hotels,they will have waste because they can't know how many customers will becoming to buy on that day. Sometimes when they cook,it might finish fast before closing time and you will see that instead of the hotel to close, they will cook more food to be able to meet up with demand of customers,this can also lead to waste and sometimes they cook more what the customers will consume on that day.

In essence, you must be able to distinguish between wants and needs.
because what you want is not necessarily what you need, but your needs are your needs.

so it's like this if you often throw away food because you don't eat, it's better to buy food little by little, not a lot at once, because maybe when you are shopping you are tempted to see this, but when you are at home you forget or don't have an appetite,
so better buy what you need.

Together with your girlfriend, get an estimate of what you consume weekly, to reduce wastage, buy less than what you buy each time you record wastage. if you need more you or the situation becomes that you both happen to consume more than what you have estimated that week, you can make a quick run to the grocery store to get extra items. It shouldn't be much of a new thing to you since you already mentioned that you go shopping for grocery like 2-4 times in a week.

Purchasing fewer perishables helps, I suppose. Fresh produce should be bought in fewer quantities, and donating leftover food might be considered.

World hunger isn't a problem that involves an actual lack of food supply. Most people waste food they get in the developed world. It's a matter of logistics/transportation and storage. Freeze drying is a method I've come across over the last years that dehydrates the food and extends shelf life up to decades. Not all food can be freeze dried, but it's something to consider.

And hey, in the event of global apocalypse, you'll at least have plenty of food  ;D

I hope you don't find this harsh, but don't let your girlfriend push you and also dictate things for you. You will find yourself spending more when you go shopping with your girlfriend. Be prepared before leaving the yard, ensure you have a comprehensive list of what you want to get and ensure you don't spend more than that. Store those foods in the fridge, the only bad thing about it is that you tend to have a change of taste when you bring that out of the fridge. Wasting of food is bad, it's best you package well and give to thoose who posses less

Firstly I would suggest you buy the things according to your need. So there would be no apprehension of things getting wasted. Secondly, what I use the policy is FIFO (First thing, first out), which means if you have bought any new items, please consume the previous one on a priority basis, and if you are not willing to use it, please give it to any needy or homeless person before it gets expired. Finally, it would be helpful to feed those who don't have money to buy food for themselves and their families.

Food waste is an important part that we need to ensure we put in consideration because there are some persons who do not have what to eat and how to go about it. I am very careful about wasting food and I do make an alternative move when I notice that some of my food stuffs will expires soon. Most time I do share my food stuffs to people I know will make good use of it. I have seen many times food expires in my fridge and it do pains me because we are not meant to waste food but to give other instead of washing them.

food management is a simple thing but difficult to implement .. because sometimes individuals or businesses do not want to bother to separate their food waste and choose to dispose of it directly .. the government should take over this and manage so that this food waste can be used as something useful ,, for example this can be used for power generation, animal feed, or food waste that is still edible can be distributed to the homeless .. but of course the government does not want to do this,, because it will be troublesome for them

Just two tips that came to my mind. Reduce food waste = buy less or only needed. That is why, make a list to avoid emotional purchases and never go shopping when feeling hungry. Seems easy to follow, yet hard to implement. Because people are used to their eating habits. People could easily make a plan what they will have on breakfast, lunch and dinner every day during whole week. But while shopping they will buy food "they usually take", in addition people will be lazy "to follow the plan or cook new food".

You seem to have the solution to your problem just reduce the quantity of food you buy. Maybe focus more on buying non perishable foods because no matter how long you keep them they will still be good for consumption as for perishable foods,  buy the quantity you can consume in two days if it gets finished and you both need more then go back to the store and buy some more. Sometimes people get tired of consuming a particular fruit it is normal in almost all homes.

When I started to buy my own essential needs, I always bought some excess foods that are not gonna consume until they cannot be used anymore. so I ended up listing everything I need and finally, I get used to it. filling my refrigerator with the food I need for the whole week and getting some satisfying results after I managed to cut some unnecessary items that I won't gonna need for the rest of the week. If you keep buying foods that are not really needed, you ended up wasting them especially when you don't have anyone in your house to cook them for you when you are lazy because sometimes you gonna order food instead of cooking your own.

I've been running a few campaigns in the local district to help with waste management. That also included food waste. The core of the campaign was to give most of the food to the local "food bank" that will then give it to the church and people who cannot afford to eat enough properly.

I don't have problems with food waste and I don't have to throw out much food. I simply don't buy too many perishable products like fruits, vegetables or milk products. I rather go shpping few times a week and buy smaller quantity of perishable products than throw it out. I really hate throwing out food, it's waste of money and resources
While I always have a lot food with long expiration date. My basement is full of canned food, pasta, rice, soft drinks and alcochol. Probably I would be able to live for few weeks without leaving home.
Though, I must admit that I eat too much junk food. You named it, chocolate, chips, ice cream, carbonated soft drinks and etc. I know, it's not good, but I don't cear that much as long as it's tasty :D.

Once a week, how it's even possible? How about milk or bread? Even if living alone, I don't know how it's possible to shopping just once a week.

To avoid food waste try to manage your stuff with proper planning, before shopping make list of things with quantities ,perishable items should be bought on weekly basis, those items which can be kept for longer period of times should be bought on monthly basis. In this way your food will never go waste.
Dealing with food is not that difficult just organize your things properly.

I tried to imagine the situation in my country, and what happened was the exact opposite. I can confirm, every need that I buy at the supermarket, is related to food. I can make sure the stock will run out on time. even, if we have several guest visits from the closest relatives. the stock of groceries that we bought, will run out prematurely.
I mean, there is a very significant difference from what is described by Op. and I'm trying to imagine in the poor countries out there, imagine, those apples that you let rot. will be a struggle for those who are starving there.

in my country, anything related to what we can eat. can be sure, will not be a useless food waste, including your apples. not that we are greedy, but we have a unique culture even for leftover food, I mean like that apple, can be used as something worth eating before it is wasted into garbage.
I'm not sure I can give you any advice, but when you buy groceries it seems to be in abundance. you can share it, half to people like homeless people around you. related to what happens in hotels, supermarkets, etc. I think there are many other members here who are more competent in giving their assumptions about it.

You have to learn from your mistakes, because you seem to have done it more than once.
throwing food away is not a good thing, because out there there are many people who are looking for a mouthful of rice with difficulty.

my advice you should learn more about management, finance and your needs.
because if in buying food you like to overdo it, surely in other respects it will be the same.

I have been living in different countries in the past two decades and experiences taught me a lot about never wasting anything, especially food. Now I am living China and daily food waste is pretty much handled well. I rarely buy more vegetables and meat than my family really needs and we cook the right amount how much we are going to consume. Back in the United States, I used to buy a lot of food per week cause that's usual in the U.S to purchase in bulk every week. Costco sells too many good things with low prices so a lot of people actually buy things far more that they need. Back to the point, how to deal with food waste ? Never buy anything more than what you really need. Be wise and live a simple life.

It makes sense that way. Those who act like they should throw food away so as to act rich are ignorant of what life is all about. There are people who intentionally order for more than what they can eat just to show that they can afford it, and then only eat half of what they have ordered and leave the rest on the plae and leave. Whenever I come across people like that I laugh at their foolishness.

Whenever we consider first that there are many out there in hunger and having less privileged to eating good food then we will be appreciating the little we have to help sustain us and give the excess ones to other less privileged people in the society, food items is expensive nowadays it we take into consideration the inflation rate on the economy, many finds it difficult to eat a three square meal per day, should in case of excess food, preserve them in the refrigerator or give them out to those in need of it, than wasting the food.

I also used to live with a girlfriend, now wife and we have a daughter. I can tell you how things are at my place and who we manage.
I go shopping once every 2 days because I drive next to a grocery store almost every day and there's also a parcel locker at the car park, so it's a convenient place to go.
Every time I go shopping I think of meals. Given that I want to make spaghetti, I buy noodles and sauce. I don't buy things I think I could eat without having a full dish in mind. The downside of this method is we don't have more than 3 days of food at the house, unless you count dry, frozen, or cans. When I know I can't eat something before it goes bad I freeze it. It's especially useful when you make soups.

That's approximately how we organize our shopping; we want to make pasta on Tuesday and chicken on Friday, so we proceed to purchase any necessary materials to eat on these two days. However, some ingredients, such as the spaghetti sauce, are designed for four servings, but because there are only two of us, we only use half of it. The issue now arises that we fail to organize to cook pasta in the following 2-3 days before the leftover sauce is spoiled, and thus, we're practically wasting half of perfectly good food. Not only is it a waste of money, but it's also a shame because there are others out there struggling.

One thought I had was to use post-it notes on the fridge as reminders and/or organize a cooking schedule through Google Calendar.