We all have personal connections to food, and for many of us, the same goes for why we don’t waste it. Do you have a #NoFoodWaste story?

Hello everyone! My name is Eva Fowler, Associate Director, Programs and Communications for ReFED, a nonprofit collaboration of over 30 business, government, nonprofit, and foundation leaders committed to reducing food waste in the United States. My #NoFoodWaste story is simple: Growing up, I was part of a super (not so) secret club - the Clean Plate Club. My mother must have been part of the leadership of this Clean Plate Club because each night, my siblings and I would have to pay our club dues by eating everything on our plates in order to leave the table. While I was never thrilled about finishing my steamed brussels sprouts (roasted sprouts were not en vogue back then), I appreciate it now knowing how important simple things like portion control are to reducing food waste. Wasting food wastes valuable resources – including water, energy, money, labor, etc. After nearly 30 years of membership to this prestigious club, I feel proud to be a contributor to the #NoFoodWaste movement. What’s your #NoFoodWaste story?