While there is one part of the world who is struggling to lose weight, trying all the fad diets across the globe, there is another half, who has never had enough to eat.
While there is one part of the world that is classified as obese and is facing complications because of it, there is another part of the world that is classified as malnutrition.
While these two sections of our society are at two extremes, there’s one thing that is common among them both: Food. The only point of difference is that the former part wastes it, the latter one begs for it!
If you ask me, wasting food starts from your own plate. It only multiplies when it is done by large restaurants and eateries. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to whether you respect food, and understand how important it is to all living species across the globe or not.
Keeping that in mind, I have enlisted six ways that can prevent you from wasting food and start loving your means of survival.
1. DON’T waste
If common people like you and me stop wasting food and instead donate it, so many people who sleep hungry every day will finally get to eat a one-time meal.
So, either order in small quantities and make sure you finish it. If you are still unable to finish it, you can always get it packed for the next day. If you don’t want to take the leftovers home, you can donate them to a needy person.
Understand that it is because of food that you are living a healthy life today, and you should make a conscious effort to not waste food.
2. Go Local
I am sure you are already questioning why at all your source of food matters. Well, it does, because when you buy fresh food from local markets, or from wholesale food suppliers, they will not worry about the unsold stock which if not stored in a refrigerator, goes wasted.
Most local, and wholesale vendors do not have access to good storage facilities and thus bear big losses because of it. So, whenever possible, shop generously from local food producers, farmer cooperatives, and wholesale food suppliers.
3. Understand that food we eat is not instant
Food that you eat is not produced and refined immediately. Our farmers work throughout the year in rain, sun, and chilly cold winters to grow food for you. Educate yourself about these processes.
When you learn about how food goes through multiple processes both natural and human, you will appreciate it a lot more.
4. Understand the importance of a clean diet
You definitely have heard it once in your life: you are what you eat. And what kind of a person you are if you waste food?
Cuisines from across the globe have recipes that can even use the leftover vegetable and fruit peels, so why not put them to use? Of course, you can have cheat meals but the idea is to embrace a healthy and sustainable diet.
5. Where is your food coming from?
Have you ever wondered where your food is coming from? Well, food is one important aspect of your life and I often wonder, why most people aren’t bothered about where their food is coming from? Back in the day, people either used to farm their own vegetables or sourced them directly from farmers.
Today, nobody cares, and it really puts me off. You do not want to eat stale veggies and fruits that are just packed in new boxes to fool you. Plus, this directly impacts your daily nutritional needs.
6. Share your food
For me, sharing food is one of life’s greatest joys. There are so many friendships that start with sharing food.
Remember, when you were in school and you used to yearn for breaks and all of you opened your home-packed tiffin boxes. That should never stop. Plus, the conversations that you have while sharing food are irreplaceable!
Over to you…
Before I bid you goodbye, let me wrap up with a startling figure:
Every year, roughly, 1.3 billion tonnes of food, either gets wasted or gets lost, which is approximately one-third of the food produced.
If this figure didn’t make your heart heavy, I don’t know what will. It’s high time you must start loving the food you eat.