SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As people sit down to feast on delicious food with their loved ones to share in the spirit of Thanksgiving, another universal holiday tradition is about to commence: figuring out what to do with all of the leftovers. Throughout the holidays, big celebratory dinners often end up with more unconsumed food than a typical meal. But with its massive feast being the center of festivities, Thanksgiving is often the biggest food waste culprit of them all. This year, upwards of 316 million pounds of food are anticipated to be tossed into the garbage bin nationwide, food waste nonprofit ReFED says — much of it coming from milk and turkey. This translates to more than $556 million worth of groceries tossed out in a single day. How to avoid Black Friday sale scams: Red flags, tips for safe shopping That excess rings true for San Diego as well: Holiday food scraps and uneaten leftovers account for around a third of the region's food waste each year, according to I Love a Clean San Diego. Not only can this harm the environment by contributing to emissions, pollution and other health hazards — it can also seriously put a strain on one's wallet. Every year, the average family of four spends about $1,500 on food that goes uneaten, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says. With all that in mind, there are some suggestions about how to limit holiday food waste — like what to do with those leftovers from your feast before they need to be tossed. Plan ahead The only foolproof way to avoid having excess leftovers you do not know what to do with is to plan your meal intentionally based on how many mouths you are feeding. Calculate ahead of time how much you'll need to serve for each person attending your Thanksgiving dinner. Save The Food from the Natural Resources Defense Council has a handy tool for hosts, called "The Guest-imator," to figure out just how much food to make. Hosts can also cut down on plate waste, or food discarded directly from a plate due to overly-large portion sizes, by putting out smaller dishes and serving spoons. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Big balloons, wet weather and 21 protesters arrested Find ways to reuse leftovers One of the best ways to make sure any leftovers from a big holiday feast avoid becoming waste is to get out the Tupperware, to-go containers or tinfoil to save it for consumption later. You could simply just heat up and eat the food the next day or, if you want to get a little more creative, you can use the scraps as a base for a new meal. Leftover meat and vegetables can be whipped up into a casserole or pizza, mashed potatoes can be flattened into potato pancakes, or you could use basically everything in a Shepherd's pie. For more recipe inspiration, the county of San Diego's Department of Public Works has ideas listed on its website. Freeze leftovers Want to hold off on eating Thanksgiving leftovers for a few days as your stomach settles? The freezer can be your friend. Under the cold temperatures, most leftovers can be preserved for consumption later — whether on its own or in a new dish. Compost the leftovers If you do not want to eat all the food you have left over, compost can be a good alternative to throwing it out in a garbage bin, especially since the city of San Diego collects organic waste from most homeowners through its green bins. Nearly every type of food can be composted, from vegetables and dairy products to food-soiled napkins. The only things you should keep out of compost bins is meat and bones, as this can attract unwanted pests to your compost pile. If you do not have a bin or a way to compost at home, there are collection sites across the county that can take your leftover food scraps. To find a site near you, visit the county’s Waste Free SD website or the County Department of Public Works website. Fire safety practices to follow while cooking Thanksgiving dinner Donate unused items Maybe you bought too much food or ended up not making a fifth side for your guests like you planned. Whatever items you do not use can be donated to one of the region's food pantries. To find the closest donation center to you, Waste Free SD has a searchable tool on its website. Happy Thanksgiving!