Skip to main content

Modal Title

Modal Description

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

Hennepin County employees Feed

BACK TO TEAM PAGE

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Storage
    Did you find that you were storing food incorrectly? Which items have you changed?
    Linda Bias's avatar
    Linda Bias 10/09/2026 11:48 AM
    This week I purchased square glass containers with silicone lined lids for my flour and rice to preserve them longer.
    Read More
    • Angela Dahlstrom's avatar
      Angela Dahlstrom 10/09/2026 4:01 PM
      Linda, me too! I picked up glass storage containers. I like them and feel so much better with food in glass than in plastic.
      Read More
  • Linda Bias's avatar
    Linda Bias 10/09/2026 11:34 AM
    I have been drying my orange mint, and I then I made a hot cup of mint tea: it was delicious.
    Read More
  • 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
    Shopping
    Are you someone who typically chooses what you buy based on what is on sale? How can you make sure you don't buy more than what you need?
    Liz Stroessner's avatar
    Liz Stroessner 10/07/2026 8:05 AM
    Along with meal planning, making and sticking to a list is really helpful.
    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?
    D Tabor's avatar
    D Tabor 10/06/2026 10:10 AM
    I would rather spend the money on vacation instead of wasted food! Meal planning helps save time during the week, figuring out in the moment of what to cook. The meal tends to be more well balanced and use what we have on hand.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Shopping
    What are some of the things you typically buy that you weren't on your list? How do you think you might limit some of those purchases?
    D Tabor's avatar
    D Tabor 10/06/2026 10:08 AM
    Some times I buy more fruits or vegetables than what is on my list because they look good or there is a sale I wasn't aware of. However, I also tend to buy cookies that aren't on my list. If I skip that aisle, I can avoid the cookies altogether.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Shopping
    What food items do you prefer buying from a farmers market than a grocery store? Why?
    D Tabor's avatar
    D Tabor 10/06/2026 10:07 AM
    Fruits tend to taste better from a farmers market versus the grocery store.
    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