Approximately 40 percent of the food sold or prepared in the United States ends up in the waste stream. Not only is that filling up landfills, it's also money out the door for the average American household. To help prevent food and money waste, think creatively about the food that's about to go bad in your home. For fresh herbs, chop them finely and freeze them in airtight containers or bags. They can be added to dinners and soups when you need them. Fresh fruit can be peeled, diced and frozen; fill freezer bags with frozen fruit combinations and use them to make easy smoothies in the morning. And slices of bread can be made into breadcrumbs or used to make bread pudding.

In addition to being an unhealthy oil that's high in saturated, artery-clogging fat, palm oil should be avoided in foods to help protect endangered orangutans. These intelligent animals, found in tropical rain forests in Sumatra and Borneo, are being eradicated as their homeland is cleared to make room for palm tree oil farms. As the rainforest land is cut, orangutans are displaced and killed, and baby orangutans are often left orphaned. To avoid palm oil, look for pure oils like sunflower, olive, corn or coconut oil. Avoid anything labeled "vegetable" oil -- there is a strong likelihood that a high percentage of that vegetable is actually palm.

Wild animals are attracted to any sources of food and will come back time and time again looking if they find it. While we can help wildlife by using tight-fitting garbage cans and not intentionally feeding them, there are items that may be inadvertently attracting them. In addition to easy-access bird feeders and unturned compost bins, well-used barbecue grills can be tempting, too. The smell of charred meat and vegetables can entice bears and other animals. To prevent your grill from being torn apart, give it a good scrubbing and wash. When it's dry, fill it with wadded-up newspaper to help absorb odors -- just remember to remove it before you start the grill!