The Love Food, Fight Waste program is meant to offer community members resources and information on how to reduce food waste. Launched on Stop Food Waste Day (April 27, 2022), community members can look forward to a new topic each month that will include a variety of ways to get involved and learn, including videos, calls to action, blog posts, and more.
Pick up your free refrigerator magnet today at either the City Hall front desk (410 E Washington Street, Iowa City) or at Table to Table (Pepperwood Plaza, 1049 US-6 E, Iowa City)!
Check out our video shorts!
Best By, Sell By, Oh My! Take a look at “best by” and “sell by” dates on food items and what they actually mean. You might be surprised to learn that, except for baby formula, those dates are not food safety recommendations.
Keep your food fresh longer. Avoid playing the “what was that?” game while looking through your fridge. You can make your food last longer by storing it in optimal conditions and organizing your fridge and pantry.
Keep food waste at bay this holiday. Food waste significantly increases from November to New Year’s. Why? Several major holidays take place during this two-month window that involve gatherings and celebrations oftentimes centered around food. Learn some simple tips to be proactive and creative in your approach to food in an effort to reduce waste.
Shop to reduce food waste. Moldy bread, sour milk, and wilted veggies — these are all common outcomes of buying too much food. Reduce food waste at home and save money by following our easy, simple tips on how to shop to reduce food waste.
Rethink and revive your food. Bread, fruit, and vegetables are just a few food categories at risk of getting wasted when items appear stale, bruised, or wilted. Embracing food imperfections with a little culinary creativity can significantly reduce food waste and save you money!
Dive in to food waste topics
Food Waste Profile in Johnson County
With Food Waste Prevention Week from April 10-16, Stop Food Waste Day on April 26, and the Love Food, Fight Waste program hitting its one year anniversary, it is time to celebrate! According to the 2022 Iowa Statewide Material Characterization Study conducted by the Iowa Department […]
Why local food matters
Did that apple you’re eating come from five miles down the road, or is it more well-traveled than you are? Reduce your carbon footprint and benefit your health by choosing local food. Monthly Topic Overview Why does choosing local food […]
Deep dive into composting
Banana peels, watermelon rinds, corncobs, eggshells, coffee grounds – the list goes on of food scraps that we don’t traditionally eat. Once we’ve eaten the banana, scrambled the eggs, and drank the coffee, what can we do with these non-edible […]
Rethink & revive your food
Those Brussels sprouts look wilty. That bread is crusty and stale. They can’t be good to eat, right? Think before you toss. There may be a way to revive that day-old veggie or bread into a tasty dish. Monthly Topic […]
Eat It, Feed It, Compost It
When it comes to food, the highest and best use is to eat it. When eating food is not possible, we turn to other uses for food that are better options than landfilling. This month, Love Food, Fight Waste is […]
Reduce food waste for your gathering this season
Our community celebrates a diversity of holidays during this time of year and one commonality among holiday gatherings is food. While feasts and large meal preparations can run the risk of producing food waste, they also present an opportunity to […]
Freeze & preserve your extra food
Winter is coming… but what are you going to do with all that zucchini that needs to be used now? Freezing and preserving your food will ensure you don’t have to throw extra away and you’ll get to enjoy that […]
Watch “Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story”
The Love Food, Fight Waste program is switching things up for our September topic! We brought you a free, in-person film screening (Sept. 2) of the movie, Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story, in partnership with Summer of the Arts. […]
Keep your food fresh longer
“Which fruits do I keep in the refrigerator (fridge), and which ones on the counter? How can I make my bread last longer?” Monthly Topic Overview Oftentimes, we find ourselves peering into the depths of a fridge at a Tupperware […]
Shop to reduce food waste
Moldy bread, sour milk, and wilted veggies — these are all common outcomes of buying too much food. Monthly Topic Overview Reduce food waste at home and save money by following our easy, simple tips on how to shop to […]
Understand the types of food waste
What is the difference between moldy bread and a banana peel, and why does the difference matter? Monthly Topic Overview The main takeaway this month is that there are two main types of food waste – preventable and non-edible. Non-edible […]
Know your Best By, Use By, & Sell By dates
If you’ve ever wondered — “What does this ‘sell by’ date mean on my jug of milk? Can I still use it in my breakfast cereal, or is it past the point of no return?” — you are not alone. […]
Support from Community Organizations
A sincere thank you to the following local groups and non-profit organizations for sharing monthly Love Food, Fight Waste content with their social networks to help our community reduce food waste! We appreciate your support!
