Tips to Reduce Food Waste this Sizzling Summer

Summer is heating up… and so is food waste.

In 2023, the U.S. produced $382 billion worth of surplus food, with 2.7 million metric tons of methane gas emission released from the percentage of it that was thrown away (ReFED US Food Waste Report 2025).

At a whopping 43.7%, produce represents the largest food category that is wasted— and while much of it was never harvested, a good amount is also spoiling in homes.

At 360 Eats, we’re all about preventing food waste and creating a more sustainable planet for generations after us to enjoy. This is a big undertaking, but it starts right here in our community with each of us doing our part to limit the amount of food we throw away. So to reduce produce waste, we’ve got five tips to help you eat all your nutritious fruits and veggies before they go bad.

Tip #1: Shop with a Plan

In the past, I’ve gone grocery shopping with the intent of being super healthy that week. I’ve thrown every kind of fruit and vegetable into my cart only to find that much of it went uneaten and turned rotten several days later.

Shopping with a plan means knowing exactly what you’re going to do with your produce beyond just “being super healthy that week”. It’s taking the time to figure out what meals and snacks you intend to cook in advance, so everything you purchase has a purpose.

The next time you hit the store, just take a few minutes before heading out to make a grocery list. Take a quick inventory of all the uneaten food and add items to your list to help you finish that food. Got a bag of carrots in the fridge you just don’t feel like eating? Maybe purchase some hummus or ingredients to make your own kind of dip to spice up things up. I’ve personally made it into a game at my home with the goal of getting my fridge as close to empty as possible before my next grocery trip. This habit not only reduces food waste, but encourages creativity and can even be fun!

Tip #2: Meal Prep

You’ve planned out your week, taken inventory, and made a list comprised of food you know you won’t go to waste. Awesome job, Food Waste Warrior. But it doesn’t stop there. The next step is to prep your produce as quickly as possible. The longer those strawberries sit in that plastic container unwashed, the harder it becomes to eat them and the faster they go bad. And when you’re craving a quick snack, the last thing you want to do is stand at the sink washing berries.

Make it fun. Put on some music, get out your Tupperware, let the kiddos help if you have them, and make an event out of it. Taking that extra time to prepare snacks and meals will drastically reduce the likelihood of spoiled food and will also save you time and money in the long run.

Tip #3: Give Produce Its Own Space

Once you’ve finished washing and prepping, set up an elite VIP (very important produce 😉) spot for just your fruits and veggies—preferably in a place that’s eye level. This is a great way to help you remember to finish the produce before reaching for a snack with a longer shelf life.

Many fridges have temperature controlled drawers at the bottom used specifically for veggies. If you notice your food goes bad more frequently when utilizing that storage, this tip might be a better solution. I keep my fruits and veg on a shelf that’s eye level so each time I open the fridge, all I see are the apples I need to finish staring back at me.

This is also a good tip if you want to avoid losing food, forgetting about it, and then finding it weeks later hiding behind a carton of milk 🤢.

Tip #4: FIFO

For those who don’t know, FIFO stands for first in, first out, and is a term grocery stockers use when placing product on shelves. The newer items go to the back to help ensure the older stuff is taken first. Adopting this system for your fridge and pantry is another awesome tip for preventing food waste.

After shopping, washing, prepping, and storing your newly purchased produce, place it behind whatever is still left over. This encourages the consumption of older produce and also prevents them from getting lost behind the new.

Tip #5:Use It, Even If It’s “Ugly”

You made every attempt to reduce waste, but toward the end of the week you find that you still weren’t able to eat it all. Now some of your produce isn’t quite as pretty as it was when you bought it.

Eat it anyway!

Of course, you’re going to want to check that it’s safe to eat first. But if it’s something similar to a banana that’s gone dark and soft or herbs that have wilted, there are many ways to remedy that.

Soft bananas can be turned into banana bread. Wilted herbs can make great sauces. There are tons of resources online with great recipes for older produce or food scraps. One of my favorites is savethefood.com.

So there you have it—five simple tips to transform you into a Food Waste Fighting Champion at home. They’re small lifestyle changes that make a massive difference if we’re all putting them into practice. The best part is that every surplus fruit or vegetable you choose not to buy is given to organizations, like ours, that we cook up and serve to individuals and families who do not have regular access to fresh produce.

We collect produce from grocery stores, farms, and gardens, prep it, and create tasty gourmet meals for underserved communities for free!

If you’re passionate about this mission to end food waste and create a more sustainable world, your work doesn’t have to end at home. We invite you to join our food waste fighting family as a generous donor, a volunteer, or any other type of support you wish to provide. There are plenty of areas in need of a helping hand and we’re always looking for compassionate, likeminded individuals. Check out our website here to learn more about 360 Eats, our mission, and what we’re doing in the community, or reach out to us at info@360eats.org to find ways to get involved.

Happy food saving!