Save Food, Spend Less Challenge 2026

Hennepin County | Ramsey County | Washington County

October 1 - October 31, 2026

Salma's points

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
121 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.1

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.2

pounds

food waste prevented

Salma's actions

Planning

Create a Weekly Meal Plan

I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu of meals and ingredients for my household of 1.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Cooking

Cook Just Enough

I will scale down the recipe of a meal to make just the right amount for my household of 2 so we eat everything up.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Cooking

Swap This for That

If I am missing an ingredient for a recipe I will find a substitute I have on hand and use that instead.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Cooking

How comfortable are you with making ingredient swaps? Where do you go to find substitutes if you don't have what you need?
Salma Ali 10/11/2026 7:13 PM

I search online for a substitute, and use what I already have at home.

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- Laquieta Brooks 10/11/2026 9:18 PM
  
  I find it very intriguing when I need to substitute ingredients for what I need because sometimes the substitute ingredient will make my meals taste better!
  
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- Abigail Sarazin 10/11/2026 8:06 PM
  
  I grew up in a substitute-friendly home, so I am lucky to be familiar with substituting foods. If I need a substitute that I'm unfamiliar with, I'll google suggestions, or text my mom to see what she would go with.
  
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Salma Ali 10/07/2026 8:31 PM

I am learning to reduce food waste by planning my meals and using leftovers. This helps me save food and money.

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- Julie DURR 10/08/2026 5:20 AM
  
  Last evening, we gathered all the crisp vegetables from our fridge and whipped up a delicious garden salad—a perfect way to make the most of those odds and ends that would've otherwise ended up in the trash since there wasn't quite enough for a full meal on their own. #freshsalads
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Planning

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Does this surprise you? Where would you rather use this money? How has meal planning helped you avoid waste?
Salma Ali 10/05/2026 12:29 AM

yes, this is surprises me because $1500 is a lot of money to waste on food. I would rather save this money or use it for other important expenses. Meal planning has helped me buy only what I need and use the food I already have before buying more. This helps me save money and reduce food waste.

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- Julie DURR 10/05/2026 4:42 AM
  
  I agree saving an extra $1500 would come in hand in a pinch or a mini vacation!
  
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Salma Ali 10/03/2026 9:05 PM

My challenge is going well. I'm trying to waste less food by planning my meals and using the food I already have at home.

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- Frances Platt 10/04/2026 12:27 PM
  
  I agree! It makes me think about how much food gets wasted and its making me plan more for stuff I already have at home.
  
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