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Welcome to Save Food, Spend Less Challenge 2026!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Save Food, Spend Less Challenge 2026 expert in no time!

Hennepin County | Ramsey County | Washington County
Save Food, Spend Less Challenge 2026
October 1 - October 31, 2026
Katie Lawrence's avatar

Katie Lawrence

Hennepin County employees

"My mission is to be more mindful of the food I buy, use what I have with intention, and reduce waste so I can support a healthier planet and spend more wisely."

Katie's points

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 266 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    39
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    25
    pounds
    food waste prevented
  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    2.0
    documentaries
    watched

Katie's actions

Kids

Trust Your Child's Hunger Cues

I will set structure around mealtimes, serve right-sized portions and allow my kids to follow their hunger cues.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Planning

Track My Wasted Food

I will track the food that my household of 2 throws out so I can learn what we're wasting and why.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Storage

Learn About Food Storage

I will learn about food storage and store food based on best practices to keep it from spoiling before it is used.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Planning

Find your meal planning personality

I will explore different meal plan techniques and choose one that works for my household.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kids

Get Involved in the Kitchen

I will involve my 1 children in meal planning, prepping and cooking activities.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Planning

Create a Household Favorites List

I will create a cookbook or recipe collection of go-to meals for my household to make meal planning easier.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 2.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Storage

Deciphering Date Labels

I will learn about food labels and not throw food out just based on the date on the package, but instead check the smell and color to see if it has gone bad.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Cooking

Use the Edible Portion

I will learn about what food is still safe to eat if portions have gone bad and make sure to utilize the edible portions if I can.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Watch a Documentary About Food

I will watch 2 videos or documentaries to learn about the scope and scale of food waste in this country.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

  • Katie Lawrence's avatar
    Katie Lawrence 10/09/2026 6:41 AM
    I have enjoyed the last 8 days of the challenge. Checking my action plan each day has helped me remain mindful of adhering to my meal plan, using up the food I already have on hand and including my daughter more often in meal creations.
    Read More
  • 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?
    Katie Lawrence's avatar
    Katie Lawrence 10/07/2026 10:32 AM
    The amount surprises me initially, but through just the last week of doing this challenge, I see how quickly food waste adds up. I would much rather use that money on a vacation or hockey fees for my child haha.
    Read More
    • Julie DURR's avatar
      Julie DURR 10/07/2026 11:12 AM
      I headed to the grocery store with my list in hand, and once I'd checked off everything on it, I was ready to go. It felt great sticking to what we actually needed—no impulse buys! Plus, I loved not having to wander up and down every aisle looking for things we didn't plan to get.
      Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Planning
    What did you find you are tossing the most? How can you change your habits to avoid wasting this food?
    Katie Lawrence's avatar
    Katie Lawrence 10/02/2026 7:36 AM
    veggies. I pick up a lot at the same time, and then dont use them as planned; or have too much left over after eating. look to reuse the veggies 2 days in a row; rather than planning a different veggie each night and having too much left over.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kids
    Share about a successful planning or cooking activity you have done as a family!
    Katie Lawrence's avatar
    Katie Lawrence 10/02/2026 7:34 AM
    I put different meal options in a hat and had my daughter pick them out to assign a meal to each day of the week. she had a lot of fun with that.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Cooking
    Have you previously learned about what food is still safe to eat if a portion of it goes bad? Who taught you this information?
    Katie Lawrence's avatar
    Katie Lawrence 10/02/2026 7:34 AM
    My mom, cut off the bad parts. veggies, fruit. not meat.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kids
    How in tune are you with your own hunger? What messages did you receive around eating as a child?
    Katie Lawrence's avatar
    Katie Lawrence 10/02/2026 7:32 AM
    Messages as a child were to finish your meal, finish your plate. Food and snacking is usually an impulsive move for me. over the last year I have worked to become more aware of my hungry and the reason why I am eating or thinking about eating. I have a printed hunger scale near in the kitchen to work on checking myself before grabbing something to eat.
    Read More