Food Scout Badges
Become a Camp Waste-Not Food Scout by collecting all five Food Scout badges! Each badge shows one practical, easy habit that can help you make the most of your food.
Badge 1
Stalk Star
Did you know that some fruits and vegetables have perfectly edible (and delicious!) parts to them that are often just tossed in the trash? From carrot tops to broccoli stalks, commonly-discarded parts of everyday fruits and veggies have lots to offer!
Take broccoli, for instance. It’s not just the florets that taste great: broccoli stalks are sweet, crunchy, and totally snackable! In fact, they’re kind of the unsung heroes of the veggie world. Peel and chop 'em up for stir-fries, soups, or slaws–or roast them for a savory side. It’s time we give broccoli stalks the fame they deserve! How many vegetable parts can you save this week?
Need some recipe inspiration? Check out our free recipe cards!
Badge 2
Food Scout Egg-spert
Even though egg cartons have dates printed on them, those dates don’t always tell the whole story when it comes to freshness. Some are packing dates written in code, while others are simply best-by dates—which don’t necessarily mean the eggs have gone bad after that day.
Eggs can stay fresh for 3-5 weeks after they’re packed, but unless you know exactly when they were packed, it can be hard to tell. That’s where a quick freshness check comes in handy!
The Egg Float Test is a quick (and fun!) way to check if an egg is still good to eat. Just place the egg in a glass of water and watch what happens.
If it sinks, it’s fresh. If it floats, it might still be okay, but you should double-check. Crack the egg open and use your senses: if everything checks out, it’s good to go! If not, it’s time to toss it.
Badge 3
Fridge Patrol
When you're on Fridge Patrol, you’ve got one mission: rescue those leftovers before it’s too late!
At Camp Waste Not, Food Scouts follow the Rule of Four: Leftovers last up to 4 days in the fridge. After that, it may be time to say goodbye.
To make the most of your meals (and waste less), try these Food Scout-tested tips:
Label your leftovers! Use a sticker, a piece of tape, or even a dry erase marker on glass containers to mark the date you stored them.
Keep ‘em front and center. Store leftovers where you’ll see them first—eye-level in the fridge helps prevent them from getting forgotten in the back.
Use your Food Scout skills to double check that leftovers are still good to eat. Check for changes in smell, texture, or color. If it looks good, smells fine, and tastes normal, it’s probably still safe to eat!
Use reusable containers with clear lids or sides so you can quickly spot what’s inside..
Get creative! Leftovers don’t have to be boring. That extra taco meat? Pile it on a baked potato or toss it into scrambled eggs. Chopped veggies? Turn them into oven-baked nachos or stir them into fried rice. Leftover pasta? Reinvent it as a pasta frittata or a casserole.
Badge 4
Spud Scout
At Camp Waste Not, we know that potato sprouts don’t mean “out”! When your potatoes start looking like they need a haircut, just give them a trim and cook as usual. A true Spud Scout never leaves a good potato behind! Some foods naturally change a little as they age, but that doesn’t mean they belong in the trash. As long as your potato isn’t green, it’s still perfectly safe—and delicious-—to eat.
But don’t stop at the potato itself—potato peels are packed with nutrients like fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, making them a great addition to your meals. Instead of peeling and tossing, try roasting the skins for a crunchy snack or blending them into soups for added texture and nutrition.
Want to keep your potatoes fresh for the long haul? Store them in a cool, dark, and dry spot—away from onions—to slow down sprouting. With the right care, your spuds will always be ready for the next campfire feast!
Badge 5
Best-By Trail Guide
We know that date labels can be confusing—so we teach our campers to trust their eyes, nose, and gut instead. In fact, a whopping 20% of food is wasted because people misunderstand these labels. “Best by” and “Sell by” dates aren’t the same as expiration dates–they’re simply guidelines for peak freshness, not safety.
Companies use these dates to let you know when a product will taste its absolute best—not when it suddenly goes bad. Many foods are still perfectly safe (and delicious!) long after the date on the package if stored properly.
Milk is often good for days after the printed date; hard cheese can last for weeks if stored properly; and eggs can stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-5 weeks after the “Best by” date on the carton!
Instead of tossing food automatically based on the “Best by” date, use your Scout skills: Check for changes in smell, texture, or color. If it looks good, smells fine, and tastes normal, it’s probably still safe to eat. You might just save a delicious snack—and help cut down on food waste while you’re at it!
