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Practical Ways to Reduce Food Waste at Home

by Alyssa Cholodofsky, CEO of 412 Food Rescue

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March 18, 2025

 

Food waste is bad for both our budgets and the planet, but there are lots of simple and easy ways to be part of the solution by avoiding wasting food in your home kitchen. Start with the practical tips below, and if you have time to volunteer, consider downloading the 412 Food Rescue app.

1] Buy what works for your household:

The best version of a food waste reduction plan is the one you will actually use. For example, pre-cut produce tends to go bad faster, but if you know you’re more likely to use, say, cubed butternut squash than go to the trouble of breaking down a whole one, opt for the easier version and avoid dooming that squash to slowly languishing away in your pantry. 

2] Practice proper storage:

Some items do best on a counter, others in the fridge in a perforated bag, and others in a closed container. And some foods need to be separated – e.g., apples emit a gas that causes fruits like bananas and avocados to ripen faster.

3] Don’t let your fridge become the place that good food goes to die:

Keep it organized, for instance with clear bins and date labels. It can be helpful to designate a “use this first” spot or bin for foods nearing the end of their shelf lives. 

4] Freeze!:

Freezing extends the lifespan of your food.

5] Don’t give up on your produce:

Tired fruits and vegetables can get a second life in soups, stews, preserves, and more. 

6] Plug into plant power:

Research suggests that a global shift to a plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70%. Why not start in your own home? 

7] Compost as a last resort:

Composting is a great way to keep inedible food out of the landfill by turning it into nourishment for plants, but your goal should be to prevent as much food as possible from reaching that inedible stage. Much of the carbon impact of our food happens on its way to our pantries – during growing, harvesting, storage, and transport. The more food we allow to spoil, the more food must traverse that long, emission-filled journey to replace it.

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Alyssa Cholodofsky
Alyssa CholodofskyCEO of 412 Food Rescue
412 Food Rescue CEO Alyssa Cholodofsky is a seasoned nonprofit leader with deep experience in the Pittsburgh region. Prior to joining the organization in 2024, she spent ten years serving in multiple executive roles at the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, most recently as Chief Program & Policy Officer. She has also served in leadership roles at Family Services of Western Pennsylvania; the Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America; and the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program, located in Pittsburgh. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, with an M.P.A. in public management and policy.