Not so long ago, humanity’s main pursuit was finding food and staving off hunger. But these days, we’re throwing out strawberries. We’re letting salad greens go bad in the crisper. And when it comes to transforming those broccoli stalks or potato peels into something delicious, we’ve lost the know-how.

In an age where the average home discards enough edible meals to sustain an entire extra person, reclaiming our kitchens from unnecessary food waste has never been more urgent. On today’s show, author Teralyn Pilgrim explores what our wastefulness says about us as a culture—as well as her foundational framework for reframing our relationship with the food in our refrigerators.

Here’s a preview:

• Why food waste stands as one of today’s largest environmental issues, and the stark contrast between historical food scarcity and modern excess
• How disconnection from food production and changing home-cooking habits contribute to everyday waste
• The Rules of Food Waste: A step-by-step walkthrough of Teralyn’s core principles for running a waste-free kitchen
• Never shop hungry! Sweep out the fridge before adding more! And other top tips for reducing food waste once and for all

Resources mentioned:

• No Scrap Left Behind (via Bookshop.org)
• Want another episode on food waste that’s chock full of tips? Check out episode #437: Breaking Food Waste Norms.
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