- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- FoodHealth
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every November 29
- Holiday emoji:
- 🗑️
Throw Out Your Leftovers Day arrives every November 29, urging us to ditch those forgotten, questionable food items lurking in the back of the fridge. This day is a gentle nudge to prioritize food safety and prevent potential health risks from old meals. Take this opportunity to declutter your refrigerator, embrace fresh ingredients, and plan smarter meals to minimize future waste.
Want to sponsor Throw Out Your Leftovers Day? Learn how
Expected Throw Out Your Leftovers Day Deals
While major promotions for Throw Out Your Leftovers Day are rare, smart shoppers can find deals on products that help prevent future waste. Look for sales on food storage containers from brands like Rubbermaid and Pyrex, or vacuum sealers from FoodSaver. Grocery stores like Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s often feature discounts on fresh produce and ingredients, encouraging home cooking over relying on old leftovers. Meal kit services such as Blue Apron and HelloFresh also offer introductory discounts, providing perfectly portioned meals that reduce excess food. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as November 29 approaches.
Platform Guide for Throw Out Your Leftovers Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #ThrowOutYourLeftoversDay. Share quick videos of fridge clean-outs or creative ways to use up ingredients before they become leftovers.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NoMoreLeftovers. Post aesthetically pleasing fridge organization tips or healthy meal prep ideas that prevent food waste.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #FoodWasteSolutions. Share community tips for meal planning, freezing food, or repurposing ingredients to avoid throwing them out.
Throw Out Your Leftovers Day Hero
Dana Gunders
History of Throw Out Your Leftovers Day
With our busy schedules, cooking fresh food every day can get rather hectic. Storing food in containers or wrapped up in plastic foils is pretty common these days. While it’s all well and good, sometimes we simply forget that there is food in the fridge! This results in food getting
spoilt, going to waste, and ultimately stinking up the fridge. There’s no real reason why Throw Out Your Leftovers Day originated except to remind us to clean up our fridges.
But how do we end up hoarding leftovers? Other than forgetfulness, it is often a poor personal habit. The most common of which are poor food shopping habits. Many of us struggle with estimating how much we should cook for our families, and therefore end up overdoing it. This is very common when we have guests over and don’t know how much food will be consumed during a meal. To prevent embarrassment, we often overcompensate and cook way beyond what is consumed. When we inevitably end up with too much food, the extras go in the fridge, followed by us forgetting about them.
Another thing we should be concerned about is how good the old food is for our health. In most cases, the taste isn’t compromised much yet you can feel the difference between freshly cooked food and your leftovers. However, some argue that the nutritional value of leftover food is far lower than freshly cooked food and it’s best not to consume them over long periods. Throw Out Your Leftovers Day is the perfect opportunity to not just clean out your fridge but also evaluate your habits.
Throw Out Your Leftovers Day timeline
Jacob Perkins builds the first refrigerator system — paving the way for modern refrigeration.
An Industrialist, Robert Victor Neher, invents aluminum foil.
Ralph Wiley accidentally discovered Saran wraps while having trouble washing his beakers.
Earl Tupper creates innovative plastic containers that are lightweight and non-breakable.
Throw Out Your Leftovers Day FAQs
When is Throw Out Your Leftovers Day?
In 2026, Throw Out Your Leftovers Day falls on Sunday, November 29. It’s the perfect opportunity to tackle that post-Thanksgiving fridge clutter and ensure food safety.
How much food is wasted in the United States?
In the United States, an estimated 30-40% of the food supply is wasted annually, according to the USDA. This amounts to roughly 133 billion pounds of food and $161 billion worth of wasted food each year.
What are the common causes of food waste at home?
Common causes of household food waste include over-purchasing, confusion over ‘best by’ or ‘use by’ dates, poor meal planning, and improper food storage. Many people also simply forget about food items in the back of their refrigerators.
What are the health risks of eating old leftovers?
Eating old or improperly stored leftovers can pose significant health risks, primarily from bacterial growth like Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria. These bacteria can cause food poisoning, leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
Throw Out Your Leftovers Day Activities
Do the obvious
Throw out your leftovers on Throw Out your Leftovers Day. Get rid of that old food that has been lying there for a week and replace them with fresh vegetables and fruits. This is the best way to celebrate the day!
Clean your fridge
Take the day to also give your fridge a good do-over. Air it out, deep cleanse it, and more to remove all the stink from the leftovers.
Be mindful of your habits
Learn how to shop and cook in the right amounts to prevent leftovers from piling up. This is also a great way to reduce wastage.
5 Facts About Tupperware® That Will Blow Your Mind
The lid design
The lid design was inspired by a paint can — the partial vacuum seal keeps food fresh.
Tupperware® parties back then
Tupperware® parties started after the products failed to make sales in stores.
Tupperware® parties today
One Tupperware® party is held every 1.4 seconds around the globe.
It’s an expensive business
Tupperware® makes almost two billion dollars annually.
It is one of mankind’s greatest inventions
Tupperware® was hailed as one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century.
Why We Love Throw Out Your Leftovers Day
Finally, time to get rid of leftovers
We love Throw Out Your Leftovers Day because it’s finally time to be rid of the leftovers that have created a mess in your refrigerator. This holiday also encourages us to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Makes you mindful
Throw Out Your Leftovers Day also makes you aware of the food that goes to waste in your home. It allows us to change our bad habits and teach ourselves and our kids' good personal habits.
Reduces wastage
Food wastage is a serious issue that concerns every one of us. When you cook the right amount of food, you ensure that none is going to waste. This day aims to make people realize the importance of food and why one must not waste it.
Throw Out Your Leftovers Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 29 | Sunday |
| 2027 | November 29 | Monday |
| 2028 | November 29 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | November 29 | Thursday |
| 2030 | November 29 | Friday |
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