Solving America’s Food Waste Crisis One Meal at a Time

There is little doubt that food waste is a serious problem in the U.S. right now. Also, there is little doubt that food waste is globally harmful. No, it is not a victimless crime. It has been said that producing food waste is like taking food directly off the table of someone in need. Of course, food waste is not the fault of any individual. It is a systemic problem of how food is produced, packaged, and delivered. The good news is there are solutions to the food waste problem in America.

What Exactly Is Food Waste and How Prevalent Is It?

The reality of the food waste problem in the U.S. is staggering. According to the article, Understanding Food Loss and Waste – Why Are We Losing and Wasting Food?, “Food loss and waste (FLW) is recognized as a serious threat to food security, the economy, and the environment. Approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption (1.3 billion tons of edible food) is lost and wasted across the entire supply chain every year. The monetary value of this amount of FLW is estimated at USD $936 billion, regardless of the social and environmental costs of the wastage that are paid by society as a whole.”

This waste is representative of all of the food that people who need it are not getting, which is the other side of the coin. There is also a serious hunger problem in the U.S.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), “12.8 percent (17.0 million) of U.S. households were food insecure at some time during 2022,” and “The 2022 prevalence of food insecurity was statistically significantly higher than the 10.2 percent (13.5 million) in 2021.” This level of hunger cannot continue unchecked.

How Can Food Waste Best Be Combated?

As previously mentioned, the good news is that the food waste problem can be combated. The first way that this can be done is via food, eating, and food waste education.

Most people have not had the benefit or opportunity of working with a professional dietician, nutritionist, or meal planner. Thus, they have not had the opportunity to understand how proper and healthy food planning can benefit them. These include emotional, physical, and financial benefits, all of which are also associated with food waste.

Emotionally, food waste causes distress because one sees their money and hard work going into the trash (in the form of purchased food). Physically, food waste causes distress because these are essential nutrients that are not being consumed or can no longer be consumed (because of spoilage). Financially, which is perhaps the most obvious, food waste ultimately equals wasted money. One way to tackle all three of these issues is to focus on meal planning with prepared, frozen, and delivered foods.

Utilizing Prepared Meals to Eliminate Food Waste

Prepared and frozen meals have long been looked at in a negative light. This can be understandable. For much of their history, prepared and frozen meals have been of the poorest quality. The good news is that this no longer has to be the case. This is especially true with the prepared meals provided by LifeSpring Home Nutrition.

LifeSpring Home Nutrition ensures the quality of their meals because there are no outside entities involved. From the meal planning to the preparation to the packaging to the delivery, LifeSpring Home Nutrition makes sure that the highest levels of standards are met. Doing this ensures that food waste remains at a minimum.

No longer will there be any extra money spent at the grocery store on foods that have a minimal shelf life and will wind up as waste. Also, no longer will the portioning be off to the degree in which much of the food ends up in the fridge in the form of leftovers, only to wind up in the garbage in the form of waste. This prepared meal process also has a pivotal side effect. It ensures that the individual is getting the healthy, nutrient-rich, and satisfying meals that they desire. This cuts down on “mental hunger” and having to go back out and buy more food because a meal wasn’t satisfying in the first place.

Promoting Healthy Eating and Lifestyles at LifeSpring Home Nutrition

With the wealth of food in this country, no one should ever have to go hungry, especially when there is a solution. At LifeSpring Home Nutrition, we believe in being part of that solution rather than another part of the problem.

Here at LifeSpring Home Nutrition, we understand that food waste is a serious problem right now in America. That is why we are trying to combat it one prepared meal at a time.

The United States is currently facing a serious food waste dilemma. One of the most effective ways of combatting it is via frozen meals prepared and delivered in a responsible way. Frozen food minimizes waste by maximizing storage time and capacity. Due to convenience and accessibility, our meals at LifeSpring Home Nutrition have been shown to help clients reduce waste one meal at a time. If you feel like you or someone you love may benefit from healthy, Medically Tailored Meals (MTM) with convenient home delivery at affordable prices, we can help. For more information about LifeSpring Home Nutrition’s developed food preparation and delivery process and how it can aid in eliminating food waste, reach out today at (800) 798-5767.