Are you looking for a way to celebrate the 2023 World Food Day? Maybe you are aware of the magnitude of the problem of world hunger and want to do something about it? In both cases, you should focus on saving food from being thrown away, which is precisely what this article is about. How to reduce food waste globally and at home? Find out below.

What Are the Benefits of Food Waste Reduction?

Before we answer how to reduce food waste at home, in restaurants, or globally, let’s take a look at the benefits of food waste reduction – the reasons why you should do it. They include:

  • Fighting hunger – If you act with the principles of food waste reduction in mind, you will donate food that will, in the end, land on the plates of those suffering from hunger.
  • Preventing global warming – The less food is wasted, the lower the demand is, meaning fewer trucks, plastic packaging, or cow-derived gasses are released into the atmosphere. Simply put, food waste reduction is sustainable.

How to Reduce Food Waste at Home

Let’s begin with food waste reduction at home. What can you do to throw away as little food as possible?

  • Shop less but more often – One cause of excessive amounts of food landing in trash bins is that we love to function like shops – restock for a longer time. However, when we do that, we find it difficult to estimate how much food we need, and in the end, some of the products bought during our supermarket shopping spree go bad. By doing this more frequently and buying less at a time, you can avoid this and throw out less food.
  • Create meal plans – You can estimate how much food you need with a meal plan. Surely, sometimes you’ll still buy too much, but in the end, you won’t throw away as many products without a plan.
  • Leftovers = Makeovers – A major part of the food that is wasted every day are the leftovers. Thus, storing them properly and using as many of them as possible is crucial.

How to reduce food waste

How to Reduce Food Waste in Restaurants

Restaurants throw away tons of food every day. Thus, we dedicated a separate section purely to them. How to cut down on this issue in restaurants?

  • Adjust the portion sizes – See which dishes usually have leftovers on them and adjust their size accordingly – you’ll also save some money on unused ingredients.
  • Wrap up the leftovers – No matter whether you own a restaurant or you’re a guest, be sure to have all the leftovers wrapped up – it’s better than throwing them away.
  • Donate food – If you clearly see that some ingredients will be left, and you will have to throw them away, act beforehand – launch YouMap, find the nearest food bank, and donate the food before it expires. It won’t change anything for your restaurant, but it might change some people’s lives in the community.

How to Reduce Food Waste Globally

You know how to do it at home, so now, let’s proceed with more global actions. How to reduce food waste around the globe?

  • Buy “ugly” foods – We’re naturally driven to pretty vegetables and fruits. However, in most cases, the ugly ones are as delicious and nutritious as the most beautiful ones. Yet, most people will only buy good-looking products so that the ugly ones will go to waste. By opting for the less attractive-looking fruits and vegetables, you ensure they will get sold rather than sent to the trash, actively reducing global food waste.
  • Share extra food – Many food banks or organizations serving food for people experiencing homelessness accept donations. Reach out to them (try searching the maps on YouMap!), give them the extra food that you have left, and not only reduce food waste but also help fight off world hunger.
  • Spread awareness – Create a map in YouMap of food-related non-profit organizations and events around you. Post it on your social media, encourage your friends to share your post, and add their own locations/events to the map. Spread the knowledge that food waste is a significant problem that has to be addressed immediately.

The Takeaway

You now know how to reduce food waste at home, in a restaurant, or globally. Remember, it’s in our joint interest to cut the numbers down to the minimum – the fate of the planet and millions of people depends on it.

Did you like this article? You may also read: How to Volunteer Virtually? 6 Virtual Volunteering Events & Ideas