While we consume a lot of food, there is a lot more that ends up getting wasted in the process. Food waste is defined as food that is not eaten at home and is afterward thrown out. Food that has been thrown away or that has passed its "use-by date" may be the cause of this. Food waste occurs during food production and processing in a variety of ways. A third of the food produced worldwide is reportedly wasted each year.

Neelam Chauhan, a dietician of the NIIMS Department of Dietetics, explains ways to reduce food waste at home:

Planning and purchasing meals
Plan your meals and activities for the week based on the foods that need to be consumed. Use up the leftovers by preparing a second dinner. Prioritise using fresh food before using frozen or canned goods. Shop intelligently by first checking your cabinets, freezer, and refrigerator to see what you already have.