It's been almost a month since World Food Day. October 16 marks the day everyone gets to butt their heads together, spread awareness on how to save food and how to promote local ecosystems. About 40% of the global population doesn't have access to a healthy diet. The processes of harvesting, handling, storing and transiting destroy 14% of the world's food. Consumers, on top of that, waste an additional 14%.
Pexels | Disposing your waste organically can also help the food wastage problem
Avoiding food wastage completely is hard, we know. But, there are many tactics you can employ to reduce it.
Ready to live more responsibly? Let's go!
1. Shop Smart
We're all guilty of getting more than we need and throwing it away when it gets bad. This is a habit you need to kill immediately. Shop for only the things you need, no more no less. You could start by making a list of how your week looks like in terms of food. If something in the grocery store tempts you, consider switching it for an item on your list.
2. Store Food Properly
Much food wastage results from it being stored improperly. You might think it's natural for your fruits and vegetables to rot quickly but, you'd be surprised at every produce's shelf life when stored properly. For example, fresh avocadoes can last in your fridge for up to 10 days when unopened.
3. Keep the Fridge Clutter-Free
If you can't see what's in your fridge, you're bound to forget about items until they go bad. Try to keep your fridge free of clutter and organized so you're always aware of what you have. When you purchase new items, try to use up the old ones first to prevent them from going into the trash.
Pexels | An organized fridge is a waste-free fridge
4. Don't Go For Looks
Major grocery chains like Whole Foods and Walmart now offer "ugly produce" for discounted prices. Since they do this to reduce waste, you might want to think logically and buy said items if you plan on eating them immediately. Food wastage reduction AND saving money at the same time? Talk about two birds one stone.
5. Monitor Your Serving Size
Overeating is a real problem. Stats reveal that 2 million people worldwide are obese due to their unhealthy lifestyle. Try to keep your portion size in accordance with your BMI to ensure that you're not only reducing food waste but are also maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Pexels | Cook as much as you can consume without overeating
Wrapping It Up
Though the conversation over food wastage springs every year around October, it takes a mere few days to forget lessons learned. How many times have you vowed to cut down your waste and ended up resorting to your old ways in no time? Well, not this time around. Use these excellent tips to live responsibly and promote a sustainable tomorrow.
