### Thanksgiving Food Waste Projected to Soar

In a celebration meant to mark survival over starvation, Americans are ironically poised to waste more food on Thanksgiving than nearly any other day of the year. According to data from ReFed, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing food waste in the United States, U.S. households typically dispose of about 230 million pounds of food daily. This Thanksgiving, that figure is expected to escalate to 316 million pounds.

The financial implications are staggering, with the wasted food representing over $550 million in groceries. This amount of food could feed all food-insecure individuals in the United States five times over, highlighting the stark discrepancy between excess and need.

Smaller plates can encourage people to take less food initially but don't necessarily prevent them from going back for more if hunger persists. This simple tactic is unlikely to significantly curb the massive amount of food waste expected during the holiday. As families gather to give thanks, it's an opportune moment to also reflect on ways to minimize waste and aid those in need.