Jonathan Bloom’s smart servings on eating and leftovers can be found at his blog Wasted Food. He’s currently writing a book on wasted food in American and shares how we can eat a little greener.

How do you eco?

I encourage people, via WastedFood.com, not to waste food. My eco goal is preventing food from reaching landfills, where its rotting emits that dastardly greenhouse gas methane.

Also, I try to put my money where my mouth is. I plan out meals and make detailed grocery lists so that I don’t buy too much food at the supermarket. Then, I’m obsessed, er, careful about saving leftovers.

Finally, as an expert eater, I’m adept at turning leftovers into lunch.

Why did you go eco?

I’m not sure I actually went eco … at least there wasn’t an “aha!” moment. For me, making good use of food is just a combination of common sense and inherited values that, not coincidentally, are environmentally sound.

But I did get into the issue of food waste after a volunteer stint at D.C. Central Kitchen shed light on how much food—good stuff, too—doesn’t get eaten.

What’s your favorite eco tip?

I would say ‘save and eat your leftovers,’ but I’d sound like a nag. Well, I guess I’ll have to sound like a nag because far too many people don’t save leftovers from restaurants or at home. That’s not cool.

And after you’ve stowed your leftovers in the ‘fridge, try to actually eat them. I find that dinner remains make great lunches or you can designate one evening a week “Leftover Night.” Can you say ‘smorgasbord?!’

EcoLinks

• Wasted Food
• America’s Second Harvest
• Society of St. Andrew
• Food Donation Connection
• The Hunger Site