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# Turkey Isn't Trash

## Food waste is a big problem during Thanksgiving and beyond

Bochkarev Photography/Shutterstock.com

People often prepare a lot of food for the holidays.

For many people, Thanksgiving means big family meals and lots of leftovers. But consider this: In the time it takes to read this sentence, Americans will have thrown away 20,000 pounds of food!

Food waste is a big issue in the world today. We throw away more food than any other type of trash. More than one-fifth of the garbage in U.S. landfills is discarded food.

Many people eat big family meals on Thanksgiving. Those big meals create a lot of leftovers. But consider this: Americans will have thrown away 20,000 pounds of food in the time it takes to read this sentence!

Food waste is a big issue in the world today. We throw away more food than any other type of trash. More than one-fifth of the garbage in U.S. landfills is discarded food.

Thanksgiving is no exception when it comes to food waste. An estimated 204 million pounds of turkey will end up in the trash after Turkey Day.

Throwing out leftovers has a serious impact on the environment. Rotting food produces methane. This powerful greenhouse gas gets trapped in the atmosphere and contributes to climate change, a gradual rise in Earth’s average temperature.

Food waste is a problem on Thanksgiving too. An estimated 204 million pounds of turkey will end up in the trash after this holiday.

Throwing out leftovers has a serious impact on the environment. Rotting food produces methane. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. The gas gets trapped in Earth’s atmosphere. The trapped gas contributes to climate change. Climate change is a gradual rise in Earth’s average temperature.

Janet Bailey/Masterfile (Leftover); iStockPhoto/Getty Images (Boy)

Leftovers often get thrown away.

Waste occurs at all levels of the food chain: on farms, in facilities that process food, and in supermarkets and restaurants. But people’s habits at home are the main source of food waste. Americans waste enough food to fill 44 skyscrapers every year!

Despite all this excess food, millions of people are still going hungry. An estimated 1 in every 6 Americans struggle to get enough to eat.

Waste occurs at all levels of the food chain. It happens on farms. It happens in places that process food. It also happens in supermarkets and restaurants. But people’s habits at home are the main source of food waste. Americans waste enough food to fill 44 skyscrapers every year!

Millions of people are still going hungry despite this excess food. An estimated one in every six Americans struggle to get enough to eat.

blickwinkel/Alamy Stock Photo

When food waste ends up in landfills, it gives off harmful gases.

Many organizations are working on the food waste problem. For example, in the Food Bus program, students collect leftover food from school lunches. Volunteers then take the unopened food to local food pantries.

“It’s really up to us to do something about food waste,” says Elise Golan of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We are in the driver’s seat.”

Many organizations are working on the food waste problem. Students in the Food Bus program collect leftover food from school lunches. Volunteers then take the unopened food to local food pantries.

“It’s really up to us to do something about food waste,” says Elise Golan of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We are in the driver’s seat.”

A. On average, each American wastes about 20 pounds of food every month. How much food is wasted per person in 12 months? The area model has been set up for you. Multiply the factors together to fill in the boxes.

A. On average, each American wastes about 20 pounds of food every month. How much food is wasted per person in 12 months? The area model has been set up for you. Multiply the factors together to fill in the boxes.

The average American throws away roughly $45 worth of fruit every year. What is the total money wasted on discarded fruit per year in a class of 15 students? The average American throws away roughly$45 worth of fruit every year. What is the total money wasted on discarded fruit per year in a class of 15 students?

An estimated 52 pounds of dairy products and 41 pounds of meat, poultry, and fish per person go uneaten each year. How much total dairy and meat/poultry/fish is wasted each year by a class of 32 students?

An estimated 52 pounds of dairy products and 41 pounds of meat, poultry, and fish per person go uneaten each year. How much total dairy and meat/poultry/fish is wasted each year by a class of 32 students?

The food wasted every day by the average American amounts to 1,249 calories. What is the total amount of food wasted, in calories, by a family of 4 in a day? Decompose 1,249 to solve.

The food wasted every day by the average American amounts to 1,249 calories. What is the total amount of food wasted, in calories, by a family of 4 in a day? Decompose 1,249 to solve.