Did you know that 30-40 percent of the food supply in the U.S. is wasted?

While there are a number of causes of food waste, households stand out as being large contributors to the issue. For that reason, families must ask themselves, what are we doing to make a change?

As parents, one of the best ways we can contribute to waste reduction efforts is to teach our children the importance of sustainability. By prioritizing sustainability now, we can raise a generation of individuals who are more conscious of their decisions, therefore creating a better future for everyone.

Keep reading to explore creative ways to teach your kids about food waste reduction, where we’ll provide tips that are both fun and educational.

Make Recipes with Leftovers

Have leftover ingredients that you don’t know how to use?

Use this as a learning experience for your whole family! Rather than throwing them away, create fun recipes that you can make with your kids. For instance, if you have stale bread, you can make croutons for a salad or teach your kids how to make French toast. You can make jams out of uneaten fruit, soups with leftover vegetables, and so much more.

This teaches your children how to cook different meals (which is a valuable life skill on its own) while showing them that you can create meals from ingredients already available in your pantry.

Create a DIY Compost Bin

Composting is a great way to show your kids that food waste can be turned into something beneficial for the environment. By getting your kids involved in the process, you can help them understand the importance of landfill diversion while teaching them how to manage their own pile.

You may be thinking, will my kids actually be interested in this?

And the answer is yes. The advantage of composting is that it’s a very hands-on activity, so you can turn it into your own little science experiment from home. For instance, you can create a fun compost chart to track the progress of the decomposition, ask your children to take the temperature of the pile, and use the compost to grow their favorite plant.

Another way to get your child interested is by introducing worms (this is known as vermicomposting), where you can teach your kids which food scraps the worms can eat. 

Take a Trip to the Farmers Market

With industrial processes becoming the norm, many of us have lost our connection to food production, making it easier to throw out food without considering the hard work that went into producing it.

When you take your children to the farmers market, they can meet the people responsible for growing their food. This can spark their curiosity, allowing them to learn about new products and ask questions.

During this trip, you can encourage them to pick out produce for the house, asking them questions like, “What do you like about this fruit?” “How can we use this ingredient at home?”

By creating a stronger connection with food and teaching them about its origin, you can inspire them to make more sustainable purchasing decisions, therefore reducing waste associated with impulse purchases.

Ugly Food Taste Test

More than 20 billion pounds of cosmetically imperfect or unharvested food are wasted each year in the United States. For that reason, it’s important that we teach our children that all fruits and vegetables are valuable—no matter their shape or color.

To do so, you can do a blind taste test with their favorite fruits and vegetables. For instance, you can have them compare a “normal” apple with one that has a unique shape and then discuss the similarities and differences.

This helps break the stigma associated with “ugly produce,” showcasing that imperfect fruits and vegetables can still be used in our favorite dishes.

Kitchen Scrap Gardening

Did you know you can actually grow fruits and vegetables from kitchen scraps?

For instance, if you take the stem end of your lettuce, put it in a shallow dish with about half an inch of water, and place the dish on a windowsill, you and your kids can watch it grow! 

While these experiments may only have small harvests, it’s a great way to teach your children about zero waste and help them better understand the lifecycle of food. 

This can be done with green onions, celery, herbs, garlic, strawberries, and so much more.

Food Donations

Food donations not only reduce waste, but they show your child the importance of giving back to their community. However, it’s important to note that there’s no “wrong way” to help your community, as every effort—no matter how big or small—is important.

There are different ways to get your child involved. For instance, you can help them put together a food drive with all their friends. While the purpose of this activity is to work together as a community to support a good cause, they’ll also have a blast running around with their friends collecting food—a win-win, right?

At home, you can also show them how to donate surplus food instead of throwing it out. For instance, you can tell them to invite over their best friend, make muffins with leftover household ingredients, and give them to someone in need. This simple activity reduces household waste, supports a family in need, and creates a meaningful, lasting memory.

Conclusion

From fun baking nights to trips to the farmers market, there are multiple ways to teach your children about sustainability.

As you’re planning these experiences, ask yourself: What activities would my children enjoy? How can I turn a “boring” lesson into something kid-friendly?

Since no one knows your kids as well as you do, you’ll know just how to adjust these exercises to grab their attention even more, such as using their favorite fruit or incorporating more hands-on elements.

And lastly, it’s important to note that kids learn by example. This means that in addition to teaching them these valuable lessons, you can encourage them by implementing these practices in your everyday life. 

By working together, we can teach our children the importance of reducing food waste, equipping them with the skills to create a more sustainable future.