Entry #9: Beyond the bin

 

          In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. Were you aware of that? As the population grows, food production also increases. In modern times, we have developed substantial resources to aid in the process of growing and harvesting food. Yet we produce such an overabundance that never reaches the light of day. It’s a huge concern, especially as of recently, and for good reason. Let’s look more in-depth. What is food waste? What causes food waste? And what are some solutions we can look for? Grab a snack and sit down with me as we unravel these questions in this post! Let’s go!

          Food waste is described as any food that is discarded or not eaten by humans, occurring at any point from production to consumption, and there are many causes for it. One of the most avoidable food waste is aesthetics. Yes, that’s right. When certain foods aren’t pretty enough, they get tossed. It doesn’t matter if they taste good or if they smell good. People instinctively eat with their eyes first; that is to say, people are more attracted to foods they find more visually appealing. Approximately 20% of produce (or more) gets thrown out for various cosmetic reasons. A weird shape, an odd color, or maybe a blemish on a peel that you don’t even consume. That’s one out of every five fruits and vegetables that end up in the trash, instead of someone's stomach. The producers aren’t the only ones to blame; consumers also partake in this trend; however, if we work together, we can fix this problem.

          People have been working on solutions for this very problem for a while. It has grown in concern over the last decades. What was once a small warning sign has transformed into a glaring problem that needs to be fixed. Change on an industrial and/or global scale is challenging, but you, yes you, can help fight this problem too. Food waste happens in your own house, not just on farms or in grocery stores. The average American family wastes $1,500 worth of food each year. Read below for solutions that you, as a consumer, can implement to help prevent this situation from worsening:

1. Plan your meals and make a grocery list

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  By planning meals and compiling a grocery list focused on certain meals, consumers focus on only buying the ingredients needed. This helps reduce the risk of going unused within your household.

2. Properly store your food

• Ensuring your food is properly put away helps prevent items from spoiling. Perishable items such as fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, and seafood are especially vulnerable to going bad.

3. Prioritize using items with short shelf lives first

• Different food items have different expiration dates. Some spoil sooner than others. It’s important to consume these items before the sell-by date to ensure the best quality.
  

4. Be creative with the remaining food

• Get creative with leftover food items. Many ingredients can be repurposed into something else after their expiration. Stale bread can be put through a food processor and turned into breadcrumbs. Brown bananas can be baked into delicious banana bread. Bruised fruits can be turned into smoothies. Think beyond the usual. There’s always another way besides tossing it out.

5. Use leftovers in other meals

• Use the leftovers from past meals to fuel future meals. Leftover proteins can be used in sandwiches. Chili can be eaten as a meal on its own, then used to top nachos. The ideas are endless.

6. Control your portions

• This is one of the biggest ways to control your food waste. If you make too much food, you can always save it for later days. A batch of stew can be eaten for a couple of days if preserved properly.

If you’re interested in reading more about how you can do your part to prevent food waste, please read more here.

          Although the large amounts of food waste are ominous, there is still hope for us to rectify the situation. By becoming more mindful of what we buy, how we store it, and how we use what we already have, we can effectively begin to deal with the problem that has been affecting our future. Change starts with one person. It starts with small, everyday choices made by individuals who care. Together, those choices add up. With awareness, creativity, and intentional habits, we can help ensure that the food grown from our soil and resources doesn’t end up in the trash but instead nourishes the people it was grown to feed. Thank you for reading this week's blog post. Comment below about what your favorite food to eat is, and make sure to check back for more Phoenix Times with Jordyn H!

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." - John F. Kennedy