What we snagged in our Too Good to Go bags

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.