Thanksgiving in the United States is renowned for its grand feasts and family gatherings. However, new data from the food waste think tank ReFED reveals that this holiday also leads to a significant amount of food being sent to the trash bin. Minnie Ringland, the manager of climate & insights at ReFED, shares practical ways to curb this waste with AgFunderNews. Combat Thanksgiving Food Waste with These Tips
Estimated Food Waste During Thanksgiving
ReFED estimates that 316 million pounds of food go to waste during this year's Thanksgiving holiday. This staggering amount represents more than 6 million in groceries thrown out in a single day. It is equivalent to providing five meals to each of the 47.4 million individuals experiencing food insecurity in the US. More than half (58%) of this wasted food consists of just two items: turkey and milk. The amount of wasted turkey alone is equivalent to discarding about 8.2 million whole turkeys, which is 4% of all turkeys produced in the US each year.Along with the Super Bowl and Fourth of July, Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays that generates food waste. Given the food-centric nature of the day, this makes sense. Not only is food wasted, but also water, energy, labor, and land required to make the food go to waste. For example, about 105 billion gallons of water is used to produce the food that will be wasted this Thanksgiving, enough for each person in the US to take 18 showers.
The Impact of High Food Prices on Holiday Food Waste
Theoretically, high food prices and inflation should lead to less buying and therefore less food waste. However, Ringland notes that there is "very little evidence to show this bears out in reality." Instead, research shows that consumers react to high food prices by switching to lower-cost options, such as private-label brands, and changing their cooking and eating habits. They may cook more at home and eat out less. Ringland also points out that decisions to toss food on Thanksgiving are more likely to be due to laziness, lack of storage, or holiday overwhelm rather than logical planning and prepping. She hopes that public awareness is growing, and consumers become more conscientious about throwing out perfectly good food. However, as inflation has trailed off this year, consumers seem to be returning to restaurants, which may indicate a decrease in other responses to food prices.
Practical Tips to Curb Thanksgiving Food Waste
ReFED offers several practical tips to keep food waste at bay. Ringland suggests planning a potluck, where everyone shares what they are bringing. This helps avoid having too much of the same dish and ensures a balanced meal. Skipping the appetizer course can also be helpful, as it prevents overeating before the main dinner. Lastly, making use of leftovers is key. Ringland is excited about the prospect of Thanksgiving leftovers and shares countless recipes online for repurposing them into breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's important to use our senses and common sense rather than relying solely on date labels when deciding whether to toss items.
