Buying more food than we need in grocery stores, allowing fruits and vegetables to spoil at home, or buying larger portions than we can eat are among our food-wasting habits.
These habits put extra strain on our natural resources and harm our environment. When we waste food, we also waste the labor, investment, valuable resources (water, seeds, feed, etc.)
In short, food waste also contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
This is a big problem . In fact, tons of edible food is lost or wasted every day around the world. In the process between harvest and retail alone, around 14 percent of all food produced globally is lost. Apart from that, large quantities of food are also wasted in the retail or consumer-to-consumer process.
The portion of food lost between harvest and retail is called " Food Loss ". The lost part between retail and consumer is called “ Food Waste ”.
The key here is to reduce food loss and waste in a world where millions of people go hungry every day.
It's up to us to change our habits so we don't waste food!
Here are some simple actions we can take to avoid this waste.
- Adopt a healthier and more sustainable diet
Today's life is fast and hectic for many of us. For this reason, it can be difficult to prepare nutritious meals. However, it is not necessary to prepare for a very long time for healthy meals. Today's internet world is full of quick recipes that you can share with your family and friends.
- Only buy what you need
Plan your meals. Make a shopping list and stick to it and avoid impulsive purchases. Not only will you waste less food this way, you'll also save money!
- You can choose bad-looking fruits and vegetables
Don't judge food by its appearance! Oddly shaped or rotten fruit and vegetables are often discarded because they do not meet visual and aesthetic standards. Do not worry. They all taste the same! Use this type of fruit for smoothies, juices, and smoothies.
- Store food wisely
Move old items to the front of your cabinet or refrigerator and move new ones to the back. To keep open food fresh in the refrigerator, use airtight containers and make sure the packages are sealed.
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- Understand food labeling
Pay attention to the expiration date. The date that tells you the food is no longer safe is the " use by" date. Check food labels for unhealthy ingredients like trans fats and preservatives and avoid foods with added sugar or salt.
- reduce the portions
Get smaller portions at home and share larger portions at restaurants.
- Love your leftovers
If you don't eat everything you've prepared, freeze it for later or use the leftovers as ingredients for another meal.
- Use your food waste
Compost your leftovers instead of throwing them away. This way you are giving back nutrients to the soil and reducing your carbon footprint.
- Respect the food
Food connects us all. Reconnect with food by knowing the process that goes into making the food. Learn about food production and get to know your farmers.
- Support local food producers
By purchasing local produce, you support family farmers and small businesses in your area. You also help fight pollution by reducing long delivery distances.
- Protect fish populations
Instead of consuming fish species whose numbers are reduced by overfishing, eat more abundant fish species. Buy certified and sustainably caught or farmed fish.
- use less water
We cannot produce food without water! While it is important for farmers to use less water to grow crops, reducing food waste also means saving the water resources used to produce these foods.
- Keep our soil and water clean
Some household waste is potentially hazardous and should never be thrown into the regular trash. Batteries, paints, mobile phones, drugs, chemicals, fertilizers, tires, ink cartridges, etc. Substances can seep into our soil and water supply, damaging the natural resources that produce our food.
- Eat more legumes and vegetables
Once a week, try a diet heavy on pulses and grains.
- Sharing is caring
Do not throw away the food that you believe will be wasted or over-buy, share with your neighbors or businesses in your area.