When we throw away the last few bites of an unfinished meal, it's unlikely that we understand the implication of this seemingly inconsequential act. It's important that you take a step back and look at this issue from a bird's-eye view, taking into account every individual who thinks not of the severity of wasted food. A 2010 report from the USDA’s Economic Research Service estimated that over 30 percent of the available 430 billion pounds of food went uneaten that year. Think that over for a second - 133 billion pounds of food was wasted!
It's an alarming figure, but it's made even more alarming when you also think about malnutrition and hunger around the globe. According to the
World Food Programme, roughly 800 million people on this planet are without the proper amount of food and nutrients to live a healthy life, equating to about one in nine people. Most of this occurs in developing countries, but that doesn't mean that there aren't hungry people everywhere. Take a walk in a heavily-populated American city and you're bound to run into the homeless, begging for enough change to buy their next meal.
So what can we do? How do we help end world hunger? It's an uphill battle, but it's one certainly worth fighting for. There are a number of ways you can get involved, some easier and more immediate than others - but all are important. It starts with being mindful of food waste management in the home. One simple thing that can be done on an individual level is to donate food to homeless. Also, you should buy as much food as you'll be able to eat in a given time period - and no more. It's not uncommon to purchase more than necessary and, as a result, throw away rotten food.
On a bigger scale, you can buy sustainable food that is grown organically and is beneficial to the planet and the people who grow it. You can make a donation or help pack meals for those in developing countries, or even write to Congress. Any step, no matter how big or small, is helpful in fighting global hunger.
The video below comes courtesy of
BuzzFeed, and instructs viewers on how to prolong the life of certain items of food. These tips and tricks will help keep your food fresh and out of the trash can. For instance, wrapping celery in tin foil will keep it from going soggy. Covering the stems of bananas in saran wrap will slow down the ripening process. Check out the video to see what other hints you can learn, and be sure to leave us a comment with your thoughts or opinions on the matter.
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