The importance of tackling food waste at an individual level is important to understanding the importance of being kinder towards the environment as well as making conscious choices and not being wasteful. The issue isn’t just integral to fix on a consumer level but also being aware of the fact that food wastage is one of the most harmful forms of waste production. Individual food wastage is essentially generated, for the most part, on a manufactural level, with other retailers and masses being encouraged to consume more than they need.
Anytime that food is discarded due to being in excess, spoiled, past expiry dates or uneaten, it always ends up in landfill. Making small but significant decisions towards consuming what’s enough, is a way for us to be more careful of how we add to the environment.
Family Meal Plans
Drawing up a list of what each member of the family needs, on an average each month, allows you to take stock and plan how to cook meals on a regular basis. For example, if you have an approximate number of how much wheat flour you need to cook with, it is much simpler to figure out buying in bulk or buying smaller packets of flour. Taking into account any last-minute needs as well helps have a better idea.
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Education & Awareness
Once you learn to tackle the problem of food wastage on a micro level allows you to pass on information and measures to those around you who face similar challenges and want to do better. Keeping tabs on what is new with composting or other food-adjacent practices like foraging, also helps in promoting the idea of living within our means.
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Local & Seasonal
As predictable this might seem in contributing towards eating better and only as much as you need, using local and seasonal ingredients, native to your geography is one of the best ways to stay connected to local food systems and communities. While there is nothing wrong with making indulgent choices, attempting to curb them to a bare minimum would assist considerably.
Get Creative With Ingredients
Instead of throwing away bananas that are too ripe to eat, make banana bread or smoothie with them, if you have the time and resources. Similarly, look up more and more creative but delicious ways to upcycle leftover food like pasta, rice, bread, spices, fruits, vegetables and meat. Make donations to food banks while the food is still in a condition where it can be consumed. Avoid buying an excess of anything but utilise techniques like pickling, freezing and dehydrating ingredients to prolong their shelf life.