Did you know that 40% of the food in the United States is wasted? FORTY PERCENT.

If you think about how many people don't have enough to eat, it's disturbing to think that nearly half of our food goes in the trash.

The good news is that you can make a HUGE difference in reducing food waste, and you will also save some money in the process! Here are some tips to help you decrease food waste, save money, and eat healthier:

1. Plan Ahead

If you know what meals you plan to make before you go to the store, you will reduce the amount of unnecessary purchases. Make a list and stick to it, and avoid going to the store hungry! Planning ahead will also help you make healthier choices, if you plan healthy meals and then purchase only those items, you won't have any other choice but to eat what's in the fridge!

2. Use it or freeze it!

The freezer can be your best friend. Chop excess produce and freeze in portions in plastic bags for easy cooking later. If you know you already have chopped vegetables in the freezer, you increase your chances of making a nutritious meal because you can just throw them into a skillet or casserole dish. This will also help you prevent food waste and throwing away rotten produce.

You can also freeze meats you won't use right away and already prepared meals for a quick microwave dinner!

3. Practice portion control.

Avoid throwing away what's left sitting on your plate by serving smaller portions. Our eyes tend to be bigger than our bellies, so use a smaller plate or serve less than what you think you might eat. That way, if you're still hungry, you can go back for seconds but you avoid wasting the food on your plate you didn't eat. That leftover food will be much better served as leftovers than rotting in the trash can. Not to mention, portion control will help you keep that waistline in check!