A well-crafted meal plan is a powerful tool that can not only help you waste less food, but can also save you time and money. Get started with the tips below: 

• Put the “me” in meal plan: A meal plan is only helpful if it fits your lifestyle. Choose a meal planning style and format that works for you. Check out the resources below for different meal plan options.
• Be realistic & stay flexible: Check your schedule and choose meals that fit the amount of time and energy you’ll have on each day. Build in one or two “flexible days” where you’ll eat leftovers, go out to eat, or make a meal that you didn’t get to earlier in the week.
• Use it up: Before making your plan, take a look in your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Choose meals that make use of pantry staples, frozen ingredients, and items you already have on hand!
• Look for swaps: Remember that recipes aren’t set in stone. Take note of opportunities to swap ingredients for similar items that you already have (like chickpeas for cannellini beans or potatoes for parsnips).
• Plan meals with similar ingredients: Consider “recipe trios” that make use of similar ingredients. For example, roasted chicken one night, chicken tacos the next, and chicken salad for lunch.

For more tips and resources, see the Planning & Shopping section below.

Smart grocery shopping habits are essential to wasting less food. Avoid buying more than you need with these simple tips: 

• Shop the fridge first: Check the fridge, freezer, and pantry before you head to the store. Remember to check the back of the shelves, too! 
• Shop with a list: Build your shopping list based on your meal plan and stick to it! Try to resist bargains and impulse buys without a clear plan for how you’ll use the items.
• “Right size” your shopping trip: To avoid over-purchasing food, jot down how much of each item you’ll need. Shopping from bulk bins and buying loose fruits and vegetables instead of pre-packaged foods can help you buy only what you need. 

For more tips and resources, see the Planning & Shopping section below. 

When it comes to storage, different foods have different needs. Proper storage practices keeps food fresh and safe for longer. Get started with the tips below: 

• Learn the best places to store food: Food lasts longer when it’s stored under the proper conditions. A food storage guide, like this one, can help you learn where to store different foods. 
• Get to know your fridge: Check the temperature of your refrigerator regularly to make sure that it’s in the proper range. Your refrigerator should be between 32 and 40° for safety. This fridge organization guide can help you learn the ins and outs of your refrigerator.
• First in, first out: Rotate items in your fridge and pantry so you see and use older items first. Use an “Eat First” sticker or sign to easily identify items that need to be used soon. If you find forgotten food, freeze it, make a meal, or share it with friends, family, or neighbors. Dispose of anything that’s past its prime.
• Use clear containers to store food so you can see what needs to be eaten. Another option is to label foods when you put them away with the name of the food and the date it was opened or prepared on.

For more tips and resources, see the Storing & Preserving section below.

Leftovers have a reputation problem. While often viewed as boring or uninspiring, leftovers can be a great way to save time and make your food go further. See below for tips on how to use your leftovers:

• Plan for leftovers: Without a plan, leftovers can easily be forgotten. When making your meal plan, plan to eat leftovers on a busy day when you don’t have time to cook. Leftovers also make great lunch!
• Get creative with a leftover “remix”: With a bit of creative thinking, leftovers can easily be transformed into new ingredients to use in your next meal. For example, leftover sauteed veggies can be added to omelettes, stir fry, casseroles, or soup to save time on meal prep.
• Befriend your freezer: If you have food you won’t get to in time, freeze what you can’t finish. You can freeze almost anything! Frozen foods make for an easy meal in the future.

For more tips and resources, see the Cooking & Eating section below.

With the exception of infant formula, date labels are federally unregulated and typically indicate peak food quality, not food safety. Read below for tips on how to know if food is still safe to eat.

• Know your labels: Best by, use by, and sell by dates can be confusing. Learning what labels really mean can keep you from throwing away food that’s still perfectly safe to eat. See here for more information on date labels. 
• Trust your senses: Because date labels can be misleading, use your best judgement to know if something is still okay to eat. Spoiled food will likely taste, smell, or look off or funky.
• Use technology: Apps like FoodKeeper can also help you decide if food is still safe. 

For more tips and resources, see the When & How to Dispose section below.