What we snagged in our Too Good To Go bags
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Too Good To Go aims to reduce food waste and is now available at Whole Foods stores nationwide. Photo courtesy of Too Good To Go
An app has arrived in Columbus that saves you money while saving food from landfills.
Why it matters: Food waste in the U.S. accounts for 30-40% of the food supply, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- More than 92 billion pounds of food, or 145 billion meals, are wasted annually in the U.S., Feeding America estimates.
How it works: Now local businesses can bag up their surplus food and sell it at a discounted rate on the Too Good To Go app instead of throwing it away.
- Customers pay to reserve a bag ahead of time. Pickup windows are usually the hour before a business closes, but can vary.
- The contents are a surprise except for a brief description, which adds some excitement. However, that also pose challenges if you have dietary restrictions or you're a picky eater.
- Expect to receive some foods that are on their sell-by or expiration date.
The big picture: The app is now operating in 24 states after recently expanding into Whole Foods stores nationwide, offering bags of prepared foods ($10) and bakery items ($6), Axios' Kelly Tyko reports.
Zoom in: Too Good To Go launched locally on Aug. 14, and dozens of area restaurants are now participating, including Borgata Pizza Cafe, Chop5 Salad Kitchen and Lion Cub's Cookies.
- Keep your search close to home or expand it to the broader Columbus area.
💭 Alissa's thought bubble: I snagged three bags last week, but it wasn't easy. They aren't quite at Taylor Swift-ticket levels of demand, but they are selling out in minutes.
- The app recommends a time to check back if a business is sold out, which helps.
- It feels like thrifting, but with food. I enjoyed the thrill of the hunt and felt good about positively impacting the environment. The food all tasted great, too!
Yes, but: Pickup times can be inconvenient and require an extra drive — which isn't good for the environment. But if you can find a bag close to you, it's definitely worth trying.
Pro tip: Check out the Too Good To Go subreddit, where users nationwide share their hauls.
Dig in: What we found inside our bags
🛒 Whole Foods: $10 prepared foods bag, 3670 W. Dublin-Granville Road, Dublin
- Two sides — a Greek orzo pasta salad and a ranchero wheatberry salad — plus a container of tuna salad and two grilled salmon filets.
- Estimated retail price: $30.
- Quick take: I need to give this a second try. Unfortunately, I don't like salmon or tuna salad, so I gave those to friends, but the sides were convenient and delicious.
🍩 DK Diner: $5 doughnut surprise, 1715 W. Third Ave., Grandview Heights
- Nine various doughnuts, including chocolate, cinnamon and cream-filled.
- Estimated retail price: $15.
- Quick take: DK is one of my favorite local restaurants, so this is a steal! I kept them fresh in a sealed container.
🧋 Kung Fu Tea: $5 tea surprise, 2483 Hilliard Rome Road, Hilliard
- Two large iced teas, a winter melon and a honey oolong, with jellies.
- Estimated retail price: $15.
- Quick take: Several locations typically have this deal available every day. They didn't prepare my teas until I arrived, so it felt more like a smart advertising tactic than a food-saving one.