NEW YORK -- Americans are spending thousands of dollars on food that ends up in the trash. That's according to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
It finds Americans are throwing out 40 percent of food in the U.S. The ford is worth $165 billion a year.
For the average family of four, that's more than $2,000 in wasted food every year.
Most food is thrown out in restaurants and household kitchens.
The NRDC says if we could cut food losses by 15 percent that would save enough to feed 25 million Americans a year.
So what can you do to minimize waste?
Cooking smaller portions will cut down on leftovers. Today, portion sizes are up to 8 times larger than the government's standard serving sizes.
Freeze leftovers if they won't be eaten right away.
You can also plan meals in advance and go to the supermarket with a list, so you won't splurge on impulse buys.
Don't be afraid of "imperfect" produce. Just because an apple isn't perfectly round doesn't mean it's no good.
Remember, less food in the garbage means more money in your wallet.
