8 Ways To Effectively Avoid Food Waste At Home And School

As the human race has evolved in many ways, many tedious chores are replaced with easy and convenient methods which save us time and energy considerably. However, this urge for convenience has potential drawbacks for us. in this fast-paced life, we enjoy the convenience of buying food items that our heart desires. However, this sometimes leads to excess buying and excess food wastage. According to a recent study, almost 33% of food is wasted every year.  The increased food wastage means increased use of resources. Reducing food waste would help the environment by reducing the need for water, land, and other resources to grow food. It will also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and landfills. Although treating food waste has significant benefits but prevention is still the best route to achieving significant environmental and economic savings.

In this article, we will discuss 8 ways you can adopt to reduce food waste at home and school.

1. Plan Before You Shop

This is the first step to reducing food wastage. Most of the food waste is caused by mindless buying. The trick to avoiding excess buying is to make a list and stick to it strictly. Taking some time planning for the food items that you need will not only save you time and energy but it will also save you money.

2. Keep Your Kitchen Organized

When you buy food products, look for the best place to store them so they are not spoiled and ripen too quickly. Check the labels for storage directions and follow them correctly. Consider adopting the FIFO practice of storing kitchen items. FIFO means first in, first out. Use the items close to expiry first. Another advantage of a perfectly organized pantry is that you can easily have a look at the things you already have so that you don’t buy them again.

3. Control Excessive Buying

An effective way to reduce food waste is to shop smarter for your daily needs. Although it is more convenient to buy groceries in bulk every month, it can lead to buying extra items that you don’t need. Bulk shopping also has a higher potential for food expiring. The trick is to go grocery shopping on weekly basis and buy only those items that you have utilized completely.

4. Reuse Food Instead Of Throwing it Away

Most of the time we are full after having a delicious meal and we are left with a lot of leftover food.  Thinking twice before throwing away food will help reduce food wastage. Instead of throwing them away, store leftovers in the fridge to eat the next day, or be a little creative and try some new recipes that you can make while utilizing leftovers. Make a habit of checking your refrigerator for leftover food before preparing a new meal. This will help to control food wastage to a greater extent.

Make a habit of eating leftovers that you have stored in the fridge. This will reduce waste from individual meals and keep the fridge clean.

Also Read - : How to Reduce Waste and Create Zero Waste Home

5. Plan Your Meals

Meal planning plays an important role in reducing food wastage. Planning will give you an idea of what you need to buy for the week and how much you need. When preparing lunch for school, try preparing smaller portions that can be eaten easily and no leftovers are produced.

At first, it can take a few weeks to decide on the right weekly menu but once done, it will save you from all the guesswork around meals and reduce wastage.

6. Use Food Preservation Methods

Preserving foods is an age-old practice in Indian culture. we have seen women making pickles at our homes. This is a great way to preserve food and prevent food wastage. Seasonal fruits and vegetables can be preserved in oil or vinegar and can be used throughout the year.

Freezing food can help preserve them for later use. you can put your leftovers in the freezer. Put a date on the packet and use it when you are not in the mood of cooking.

7. Compost Scraps

Scrap is created after making meals. Scraps from stems, peels, and unused food can be used to create a compost heap. This is a great way to reduce food wastage and convert it into rich fertilizer. Compost food waste can be utilized in school gardens.   Encourage your kids to work with farmers on compost projects.

8. Go For Home Made Lunch At School

This is the simplest way to avoid food wastage. Instead of buying packed food, make a habit of taking homemade lunch for your school. You can make an extra portion of the evening meal and pack it for the next day. This will save you from spending extra time making lunch and it will provide you with a healthier lunch option.

Conclusion

Food waste has been a longstanding issue in India. At least one-third of food is wasted every year. Think how the food-insecure nations would feel about this. Food loss occurs at every step in the food supply chain. From food spoilage during supply and transport to spoilage from bacterial and fungal attacks and then leftover food wastage, individual efforts to stop food wastage can play an important part. If you liked reading this post, subscribe to our Facebook and Instagram pages for more content.

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