Food waste from a meal plan

The calculator uses the numbers you enter: planned meals, cooked meals, and ingredient cost. 12 minus 9 is 3 meals at 8, which is 24 a week and 1248 this year. Grocery waste sits in the grid.

The calculator does not scan receipts and does not build a meal plan. Minutes on the shopping list are optional and do not change the main result. Takeout: takeout cost versus cooking the same meals.

Input data

Enter planned meals, cooked meals, and the ingredient cost of one meal. You can leave grocery spend and the waste percent as context.

Optional context

This field is optional. Shopping-list time appears in the grid beside the cost of uncooked meals. A blank field skips that context and does not change the main result.

Results

Enter data and click Calculate.

How it works

The calculator subtracts cooked meals from planned meals, multiplies a positive difference by the ingredient cost and by 52. 12 − 9 = 3. 3 × 8 = 24. 24 × 52 = 1248 this year.

The main result comes from planned meals, cooked meals, and ingredient cost. Grocery spend, the waste percent, and list minutes sit in the grid and do not change the main result.

Second example: 18 and 18 is 0. Third: 7 minus 4 times 12 and 52 is 1872.

The calculator does not scan receipts and does not build a meal plan. A comma in 12.5 is read the same way as a period.

Formula

Result = (planned − cooked) × ingredient cost × 52. At 12, 9 and 8: 3 × 8 × 52 = 1248. Grocery waste sits in the grid.

What these numbers mean

12 minus 9 times 8 and 52 is 1248 this year.

uncooked planned meals
Planned minus cooked, then times ingredient cost and 52. At 12, 9 and 8 that is 1248 this year.
ingredient cost
The amount for one planned meal. It enters the result only for uncooked planned meals.
grocery waste
The percent of monthly grocery spend that you throw away, times 12. It sits in the grid and does not change the main result.

How to use

  1. Enter 12 planned meals and 9 cooked meals.
  2. Add ingredient cost 8.
  3. Click Calculate. The result is 1248 this year.
  4. Second example: 18 and 18 is 0. Third: 7, 4 and 12 is 1872.
  5. You can skip grocery spend, waste percent, and list minutes. When you fill those fields, they appear in the grid and do not change the main result.

Examples

Example 1

  • plan 12
  • cooked 9
  • meal 8
  • spend 600
  • waste 10%

1248 this year

12 − 9 = 3. 3 × 8 = 24. 24 × 52 = 1248.

Example 2

  • plan 18
  • cooked 18
  • meal 7
  • spend 450
  • waste 5%

0 this year

18 − 18 = 0. 0 × 7 × 52 = 0.

Example 3

  • plan 7
  • cooked 4
  • meal 12
  • spend 800
  • waste 20%

1872 this year

7 − 4 = 3. 3 × 12 = 36. 36 × 52 = 1872.

Related calculators

Learning hours

Learning hours: 4 times (40 minus 5) over 60 minus 3 is 0.7 hours below. Days without study sit in the grid.

Use calculator →

Takeout cost versus cooking the same meals

Takeout cost versus cooking the same meals: 4 orders at 24 and ingredients 8 is 64 more than the same meals cooked by you.

Use calculator →

All lifestyle calculators

Common questions

What does 1248 this year mean?

12 − 9 = 3. 3 × 8 = 24. 24 × 52 = 1248.

How is the result calculated?

Result = (planned − cooked) × ingredient cost × 52. At 12, 9 and 8: 3 × 8 × 52 = 1248.

What is the second example?

18 and 18 is 0.

What is the third example?

7 minus 4 times 12 and 52 is 1872.

What does the calculator not do?

The calculator does not scan receipts and does not build a meal plan. List minutes are optional.

Do all fields enter the main result?

No. The main result comes from planned meals, cooked meals, and ingredient cost. Grocery spend and waste are optional.

What do uncooked planned meals, ingredient cost, and grocery waste mean?

Uncooked planned meals are planned minus cooked, then times cost and 52. Ingredient cost is the amount for one meal. Grocery waste is the spend percent times 12, in the grid.

Does a comma in 12.5 work?

Yes. 12.5 and 12,5 are read the same way.

Sources

The result comes from the numbers you enter. This is the cost of uncooked planned meals, not a meal plan.

Page updated in 2026.