How Much Money Are We Throwing Away?
Half a loaf of bread that has gone stale, vegetables forgotten at the bottom of the drawer, an unopened yogurt, or a meal prepared in too large a quantity. Each may seem like a small loss. Over weeks and months, however, these losses become an expense worth paying attention to.
According to Israel’s 2024 National Food Waste and Rescue Report, published by Leket Israel and BDO in partnership with Israel’s Ministries of Health and Environmental Protection, the annual value of food wasted by an Israeli household is estimated at approximately 4,000 Israeli shekels (NIS). That works out to around NIS 333 per month, on average. This is an estimate for households in Israel, and the actual amount varies from one home to another.
To see how these losses add up, consider a simple example: if you throw away food worth 50 ILS ( or a similar sum in your local currency) every week, the annual cost reaches 2,600. Halving that waste, while adjusting your shopping to reflect what you actually eat, could leave you with an extra 1,300 a year.
So when comparing grocery prices, it helps to ask another question: How much of what we put in our cart will we actually eat?
Why Do We Buy More Than We Need?
We want a variety of food at home, worry about running out, and find it hard to pass up an appealing offer. Sometimes we shop for a week of home cooking but end up eating several meals at work or elsewhere. Sometimes a new purchase hides a product we have already opened, and we discover it only when it is too late.
There is no need to blame ourselves. Instead, we can identify where our plans do not match our daily lives and adjust the next shopping trip accordingly.
How Can We Waste Less Food and Save Money?
- Start Your Shopping in the Fridge and Cupboards
Before making a shopping list, check what you already have and what needs to be used soon. Taking a photo of your fridge and pantry shelves before heading out can help you avoid buying duplicates.
Alongside asking, “What would we like to eat this week?” ask, “What meal could we make with what we already have?”
- Plan for the Week You Will Actually Have
Consider how many meals you expect to eat at home, who will be there, and when you will have time to cook. If you have an evening out or a family visit planned, factor that into your shopping.
Leave room for a meal made from leftovers, too. That way, every evening does not require opening more products or cooking something new.
- Judge Special Offers by How Much You Will Use
A larger package may cost less per unit of weight, but the saving can disappear if some of its contents end up in the bin.
For example, two packs for 18 may look like a better deal than one pack for 12. But if you use only one and throw the other away, you have spent six extra for no benefit. Before buying in bulk, consider whether you will use everything in time and whether you can freeze some of it.
- Keep Food That Needs Using Where You Can See It
Food is easier to remember when it is in plain sight. Keep opened products and items that need using soon in a visible area of the fridge, following their storage instructions. When putting groceries away, place older products in front of newer ones.
Keep your freezer organized as well. Label containers with their contents and the date they were frozen so that you can easily identify what is inside.
- Cook Quantities That Suit Your Household
If half a tray of food is left over every time, try making a little less next time. You can note beside the recipe how many portions it produced and how many were actually eaten.
When cooking enough for several days, decide in advance what you will eat soon and what you will freeze. Planning how to use the extra portions is part of preparing the meal.
- Use Ingredients While They Are Still Good
Ripe tomatoes that are less appealing in a salad may work well in a sauce, and ripe bananas can be used in a cake. Choosing recipes based on what is already at home helps you use your groceries before they need to be discarded.
- Understand the Date on the Package
Two common date labels may look similar but have different meanings. Wording and labeling rules vary by country, so check the guidance where you live.
- “Use by” generally indicates a safety deadline for perishable food. Do not eat it after the stated date.
- “Best before” generally refers to food quality. Some products may still be safe after this date if stored correctly and the packaging is intact, although their quality may decline.
Always follow storage instructions and any directions about how long to keep a product after opening. A normal smell or appearance does not guarantee that perishable food is safe to eat.
The Environment Benefits, Too
Every food product requires resources such as water, land, energy, packaging, and transportation. When food is thrown away uneaten, those resources are wasted as well, and more waste needs to be managed. Reducing food waste at home helps us make better use of food that has already been produced and purchased.
Start by Paying Attention for One Week
For one week, write down which foods you throw away, their approximate value, and why they went unused. Did you buy too much? Cook more than you needed? Forget an opened product?
At the end of the week, choose one change: buy less bread, prepare a smaller side dish, or check the fridge before placing your next grocery order. When your shopping reflects what you actually eat, less food ends up in the bin and more money stays in your household budget.