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Why is so much of our food being wasted? Are we producing too much or cooking too much? Hotels produce tons and tons of food that looks attractive but will never be eaten. There isn’t a policy of ‘save the food’ so it’s not even given to the poor, but finds its way to the dump. It rots, releasing methane gas, a greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s climate.
It’s like a vicious circle because there is also all that wastage of oil and fuels that goes into the production of all this food that is just thrown out.
Food Wastage has Environmental Impacts
Food waste is a much more serious issue than you think. Save the food is important as it has economic and environmental impacts and awareness of the negative impacts is still low. Because ad campaigns like SaveTheFood haven’t had the impact that it should, it becomes necessary for every household to do their bit to save the food they use in different ways. If you start small with save the food initiatives, over time you can see those small changes making a positive impact.
Make a List of Essentials
If you plan your meals, you’ll have less waste. If you’re only two people in the house, cook for two and not four. Unless of course you cook food sufficient to use again tomorrow and that can be refrigerated till then. Meal planning helps save the food by reducing waste. Shop with an ‘essentials’ list and stick to it. Avoid buying foods you don’t need.
Use ‘scraps’ for Cooking
Many people don’t realize that certain foods have parts to them that can be eaten. Look at herbs as an example. People use herbs such as parsley and coriander, not realizing that even the stems can be used. The stems have lots of flavor in them. Also, look at vegetables such as cauliflower – the stems contain a lot of nutritional value as do the skins of potatoes.
All these ‘unedible’ parts can be baked, stir-fried, steamed or roasted, With bread too that has become stale too – it is still edible – you just have to be creative with it. There always seems to be bread left over and inevitably it’s just thrown out. If you’re afraid the bread is going to become moldy before you can use it, cut the bread into small blocks, store them in the freezer and use them as croutons in soups. Speaking of soups – what can be tastier than a bowl of piping-hot cream soup, made from several left over vegetables, combined with a white sauce?
You can also dry out slices and pieces of stale bread in the oven until slightly browned and then roll with a rolling pin into fine crumbs. Store the crumbs in a jar. The crumbs can be used for crumbing steak or fish. Sour milk too doesn’t need to be tossed out. It will help when making scones. Remember to use 2g of bicarbonate soda in addition of the baking powder when using sour milk.
If you grow something yourself you’re more concerned about what happens to it. Knowing where your food comes from gives you more appreciation for farmers and how they grow food. Set up a compost bin as it will benefit your soil and reduce the amount of rubbish going to the dump.
Everybody can use some help with ideas for saving food. Keep your meals simple ones. Archana’s Kitchen’s is a great resource for empowering people benefit with skills for effortless, healthy cooking. Not only does it have super recipes but it offers excellent advice on food – special diet meals healthy lunchbox ideas, dinner ideas, party menus, food wastage, food shopping techniques, food storage and much more. There is even an app to download so you have recipes right at your fingertips.
Nobody can become a scientific food expert over night, but Archana’s Kitchen is at least beneficial for all to learn something about food preparation, calories, proteins and vitamins and what they do to our bodies. All this information on food, however, can no longer be reserved for laboratories and commercial kitchens.
In the 21st century, it has become a vital factor in our own homes and the kitchen – knowledge on how to work with food and save it. We all need to be thinking carefully about what we eat, how we eat it and how we dispose of food as all these answers ultimately affect our health and the health of the planet.