Optimal Finance Daily · Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Emily Guy Birken explains that meal planning is a key habit to reduce food waste and save money on groceries. By planning meals in advance, individuals can better utilize existing ingredients, avoid impulse purchases, and ensure they only buy what they need, thus minimizing food spoilage and unnecessary spending.
“The solution to the food wasting problem is meal planning.”
“Planning out your meals in advance or even just your dinners forces you to think about what ingredients you have at home, allows you you to only shop for the ingredients you need rather than going on a grocery binge, and makes you plan out your week with the difficult days in mind.”
“You'll find that you not only spend less at the grocery store, less of your food will end up in the trash.”