Why Should We Reduce Food Waste?
/Why Should We Reduce Food Waste?
The other day I was reading some news on the internet about food waste worldwide, and I was wondering how many people will empathize with the statistics presented. We understand, indeed, that hundreds of tons of wasted food are destroyed every day, while many people starve. We have the feeling that everything is happening somewhere, far away, in the corner of the world, not here, close to our homes. We don’t think often on how to reduce waste in the kitchen but I think it’s time to become more aware of this.
I don't like wasting food for several reasons, not just because sometimes it's just immoral. There is money thrown away and time wasted on shopping and cooking. So today, I would like to talk about how to prevent food waste. You would be surprised to find out how much this stimulates our creativity in the kitchen:
First of all, don't buy more than you need. I say this as a general rule, although sometimes it is not possible to follow it exactly. For the holidays or when you have guests, it is better to have something extra than to get up from the table being hungry.
Reinvent creative dishes with what's left of your other meals. For example, if you have turkey or chicken left, you can make a salad. Add pecans, mint or pomegranate, and something great comes out. If you add some vegetables to the remaining meat, make a soup that you can use as a base for other foods. If it is too much, freeze it and put the date on a label on the sealed bag. If you needed yolks for a cake, don't throw away the egg whites. You can freeze them snd when you feel like it, make a cake or a Pavlova, with berries. It's delicious!
When, for various reasons, I have to cook more and not eat as much as I thought, I freeze the food immediately. I make portions that I put in the freezer and write on the bag the current date. It's a method that helps me a lot. We don't eat the same dish for too many days in a row, so because I have stocks of food cooked in the freezer, I can vary it frequently, without staying in the kitchen all day. Do we want some fish? We have in the freezer with orange and ginger sauce. Along with a quickly prepared risotto and a salad is a healthy meal and ready immediately.
If you have too much, give it to others! I know it's a rule that goes through everyone's mind, but often we don't do it out of convenience. For example, if you have leftover cake, make a package and take it to co-workers. When the guests leave, pack them the foods they liked the most. Give it to neighbors or friends with children, and they will surely enjoy it. Cooked food given with love has an incredible effect on people! I think it has the power to create bridges of affection in this world of ours, which tends to divide and become lonely.
These are some of the things I do to avoid wastage of food. And if you have other ideas, I look forward to reading them in the comment section down below. I am especially interested in, what new recipes you invent from the leftover food. If you are interested in this topic, we can exchange recipes!
PS: I wrote this article before all these times that worry all of us. Obviously, the methods must be adapted in such a way that we do not endanger ourselves.
