Food makes up the largest portion of solid waste found in US landfills. In a recent study researches focused on the nutritional value of food we routinely throw away. Americans are not getting enough fiber, calcium, potassium and vitamins A, C, D, and E while at the same time throwing away tons of good food every year.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are thrown away at particularly high rates, leading to enormous loss of under consumed nutrients, especially potassium. Vitamin D and calcium are lost when dairy foods are discarded. Fiber is lost when grains, vegetables, and fruit are thrown away. And, unused fats and oils lead to loses of vitamin E.
The researchers estimated that food wasted at the retail and consumer levels contained 1,217 calories, 33 grams of protein, 5.9 grams of fiber, 1.7 micrograms of vitamin D, 286 milligrams of calcium, and 880 milligrams of potassium each day. Eat those nutrients. Don’t throw them in the trash.
