PREBLE COUNTY — The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Preble County WIC encourages everyone to “Go Further with Food” by storing food correctly to reduce waste and lower your grocery bill during National Nutrition Month in March.
Registered dietitian nutritionists are uniquely qualified to help reduce food loss and waste by individuals, families, communities and businesses. About 31 percent of all edible food is wasted in the U.S., and American households throw away nearly 28 percent of fruits and vegetables.
“Far too often, good food goes bad before we get the chance to eat it,” says registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson Melissa Majumdar. “Before going to the grocery store, check inside your refrigerator. Eat what you already have at home before buying more.”
Majumdar suggests freezing extra food, such as fruits or meats to extend shelf life, and wrapping freezer items in heavy freezer paper, plastic wrap, freezer bags or foil.
“To reduce waste, also date all frozen items and use the oldest food first,” Majumdar says.
Knowing how to read a date label is also key to making sure good food isn’t wasted. The “sell by” date lets the store know when it should stop selling a package to manage inventory; “best if used by” is the last date recommended for the customer’s use of a product at its peak quality.
“Although it’s important to try to use food you’ve bought, if you have any doubts about it being safe to eat, throw it away,” Majumdar says.
As part of National Nutrition Month, the Academy’s website includes articles, recipes, videos and educational resources to spread the message of good nutrition and the importance of an overall healthy lifestyle for people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Consumers can also follow National Nutrition Month on the Academy’s social media channels including Facebook and Twitter using #NationalNutritionMonth.
As a founding member of Further with Food Center for Food Loss and Waste Solutions, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is committed to cutting food loss and waste in the United States in half by 2030. Visit furtherwithfood.org/resources/ for great tools and resources.
Preble County Public Health has a mission to promote and improve the good health and well-being of the people living and/or working within Preble County. Our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program employees two registered dietitian nutritionists who help families learn about wise food choices , food preparation and food safety. Call our office to find out if your family is eligible for WIC or visit www.odh.ohio.gov to learn more.
To keep up with other public health–related issues make sure to check out Preble County Public Health online at www.preblecountyhealth.org, through Facebook at www.facebook.com/PrebleCoHealth and on Twitter at @PrebleCoHealth! We are also available Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by phone at 937-472-0087.
