Food and diet are hot topics in today’s media. That’s because quality food in a well-balanced diet nourishes the body and soul. Food brings us together in so many ways. Sharing food is a way to express love, learn about culture and create memories.
However there is a hidden crisis surrounding the topic of food.
Have you ever thought about how obesity, hunger and waste occur simultaneously? The paradox is that scarcity and abundance are the cause.
It’s amazing that every year 30 percent of global food production is lost or wasted, both in developing and industrialized countries. This is equal to 1.3 billion tons of waste.
This quantity is 4 times more than what is necessary to feed the almost 800 million people worldwide that suffer from chronic hunger everyday.
The real paradox is that 42 million children under the age of 5 are overweight and more than 500 million adults suffer from obesity.
What we do everyday can make a difference! Make every calorie count by choosing wholesome, nutritious food. Buy less packaged foods and only buy what you and your family will consume.
- Shop your refrigerator first! Cook or eat what you already have at home before buying more.
- Plan your menu before you go shopping and buy only those things on your menu.
- Buy only what you realistically need and will use. Buying in bulk only saves money if you are able to use the food before it spoils.
- If safe and healthy, use the edible parts of food that you normally do not eat. For example, stale bread can be used to make croutons, beet tops can be sautèed for a delicious side dish, and vegetable scraps can be made into stock.
- Find out how to store fruits and vegetables so they stay fresh longer inside or outside your refrigerator.
- Freeze, preserve, or can surplus fruits and vegetables – especially abundant seasonal produce.
- Compost food scraps rather than throwing them away.
- Nutritious, safe, and untouched food can be donated to food banks to help those in need.
- At restaurants, order only what you can finish by asking about portion sizes and be aware of side dishes included with entrees. Take home the leftovers and keep them for or to make your next meal.
- At all-you-can-eat buffets, take only what you can eat.
For menu planning and food shopping tips, check out my book Beyond The Mediterranean Diet: European Secrets Of The Super-Healthy.