Save Food, Save the World!
Food waste is a major issue that we can help solve. With 6 simple measures, we can decrease food waste.
Be aware of the environmental impact of food wastage. Everything starts with a small step. By reducing food waste, we could reduce global emissions by 8-10%. Using less food reduces waste, benefits the environment, and can save money. Changing your behaviors to make better use of the food you buy is an easy approach to assist both your family and the environment. You may save money and help the family's budget by doing so.
Plan your meals ahead of time and make the most of the ingredients you have on hand. For example, create croutons out of old bread. Cut your bread into pieces and place on a baking pan. Drizzle with oil. Then, season with salt and pepper and any other herbs. Bake for around ten minutes, then enjoy your handmade croutons. Develop your inventiveness when it comes to using goods. Be inventive in the kitchen. Learn new recipes. Make a lovely vegetable soup with leftover veggies, or flavor simple water with citrus rinds and strawberries (including stems!).
Organize your refrigerator or pantry and learn how to preserve food. Create an “eat me first” box. Vegetables like celery, carrots, or asparagus will last longer when stored in a glass of water in the refrigerator. If you know you won't be using them for a while, why not put them in water to keep them cool? Store fruits and vegetables separately. Never put potatoes with onions. Revitalize the greens with an ice bath. Freeze extra foods that you won't be eating anytime soon. If you have to go shopping, make a shopping list and stick to it to buy only what you need. Try to be open to buying discounted and expiring food items. Pay attention to the expiration date if you don't plan on using it up soon.
Store leftovers properly. If you go to a restaurant, only order what you plan to eat. Don't hesitate to take away unfinished food. Cover leftovers, wrap in airtight packaging, or seal in a storage box. These practices help keep bacteria out, lock in moisture, and keep leftovers from picking up odors from other foods in the refrigerator. Leftovers will be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Then the risk of food poisoning increases. If you don't think you can eat the leftovers within four days, freeze them immediately. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time. Refrigerate or freeze packaged leftovers immediately for quick cooling.
Share food. If we cannot eat alone, through the simple act of sharing food, we can start a conversation, get to know our neighbors, and possibly make friends. Or you can share your food with people who need it. Sharing a meal with others can create a feeling of connection and community. It allows people to come together and bond over shared experiences. This is especially important in cultures where food takes center stage in social gatherings
Composting is also an option, which is an ingenious way to recycle the food and garden waste you generate at home all year round and manage your waste more sustainably. Several environmental benefits, including improving soil quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, recycling nutrients, reducing soil pollution, environmental impacts and environmental pollution, can be achieved by recycling food and other organic waste into compost. But we need to learn some tips about this. Remember: Don't add fish, meat, dairy, bones, baked goods, fatty or greasy foods to your compost pile. These food scraps do not decompose easily and can attract animals.
Remember, food waste contributes significantly to climate change, generating about 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Food waste is an immoral practice: a large amount of food is thrown away while many people cannot afford to eat. Throwing away food is a waste of money.
Author: Rugiyya Azizova
This blogpost was created in the framework of Feel Good project (2022-1-PL01-KA220-YOU-000086018).