Reduce Your Food Waste & Help The Planet In 6 Simple Steps
As the world population continues to grow, so does the amount of food waste generated each year (even though we already have enough food to feed more than the plant’s population x 2)!). Food waste is a global issue which has substantial economic and environmental costs. Studies suggest that globally, about one-third of all the food produced is wasted. According to the UNEP, 61% of global food waste occurs at the household level. Therefore, improving our global food waste issue can start in your very own home. In honour of ‘Stop Food Waste Day’, here are 6 practical ways to avoid food wastage and reduce your impact on the environment:
1) Plan your meals ahead of time
Organise your grocery shopping around the meals you plan to prepare. This way you can aim to only buy what you need and avoid impulse buying. This will help reduce the amount of leftover food that ends up in the bin.
2) Store food properly
Ensure that you store food items properly, especially perishables like fruits and vegetables. Investing in a produce bag is a great way to stop having to throw out spoiled fruits and vegetables. Veggie Saver is scientifically proven to keep your produce fresh for 2 weeks or more.
3) Share food with others
If you find yourself having excess food, consider sharing them with your family, friends, neighbours, or colleagues. We’re sure they’ll be more than grateful! Some neighbourhoods even arrange a meal train where each household takes it in turns to cook and share the meals with one another. This is not only a great way to reduce food waste, but to save money too.
4) Donate food
Many food banks and shelters welcome donations of non-perishable food items. Donating food is a fantastic way to help local people in need and reduce food waste at the same time.
5) Compost your food scraps
This will reduce landfill waste and also will turn into excellent fertiliser for your garden.
6)Repurpose your leftovers
Repurposing leftovers is another great way to help prevent food waste. Here are some fun and delicious ideas:
- Make soup
Upcycle leftovers like cooked vegetables, rice, or meat into a healthy and flavourful soup. - Revive stale bread
Use stale bread to make breadcrumbs or croutons for soups or salads, or treat yourself and loved ones to a French toast breakfast! - Potato and vegetable peel crisps
Instead of tossing your peelings away, turn them into an easy and tasty snack! Coat them in olive oil and salt and place them in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
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Preventing food waste requires everyone to take responsibility, and it starts with small, manageable actions. Inspiring others to adopt zero-waste habits and repurposing leftovers can also make a significant difference. By working together, we can help minimise food waste and preserve our precious planet.