5 ways to reduce food wastage
By Kshitij Kumar
This post was originally published on June 03, 2019.
In this fast-paced world, we carry out a great many acts without being conscious of the repercussions. Out of numerous such activities, one is wastage of food and a lot of us are active participants in it. Did you know food wastage is an issue that has a global scale? According to a report by the National Resources Defence Council (NRDC), 40 percent of food goes uneaten in the US, whereas in Asia, India and China cause a loss of 1.3 billion tonnes of food wastage every year. In terms of overall food waste — agricultural produce, poultry and milk — India ranks seventh, with the Russian Federation at the top of the list.
India’s lower ranking is because most of the countries ranking above it utilize much of their land in raising poultry, while a major chunk of land in India is under agriculture and this explains the highest wastage of cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables that occurs in India.*
Can you recall the last time you did not throw away healthy consumable food, but offered it to someone in need? If you can, well congratulations, we need more people like you and in case you cannot, welcome to the larger community of individuals who need a massive revision of their actions. As they say, change begins from our own homes; so here are some simple ways by which we can reduce food wastage at our homes:
Shop smart and realistically: It is essential to have a record of everything you’re dumping in order to not repeat it in the coming future. Also, we must check our supply of food before we go out to shop. That way we won’t overstuff our refrigerators, at the same time keeping a check on food wastage.
While hosting people, don’t over-serve food: We must avoid over-serving friends or family when hosting them for meals by using small plates and small serving sizes. This helps us avoid the scenario of leftover food on our plates and hence, prevents wastage.
Consume leftovers: Always make sure to save uneaten food when you cook too much or order in excess at a restaurant. Ensure to store it properly and consume or donate before its contents become unhealthy.
Practice food donation: Before discarding excess food, look up for the organizations that can help in handing it out to the people in need. It not only prevents wastage of surplus food but also redirects it to those in need.
Educate and sensitize the society: It is appalling that even today, we turn a blind eye to the adversities of hunger and food wastage around us. It is imperative to awaken the conscience of people and make them aware of their social responsibilities at an individual level.
