Food waste is a much bigger problem than many of us realize. Approximately one third of all food produced in the world is wasted for various reasons. This means approximately 1.3 billion tons every year. Unfortunately, the food you throw away saying "it's just a piece of something" is not just a waste of money. Discarded food causes climate change as it rots and produces methane gas.
It also wastes a lot of water. According to the World Resources Institute, 24% of all water used for agriculture is lost through food waste each year. This means approximately 170 trillion liters of water.
Preventing these is in your hands! Yes, you read it wrong. It's in your hands. You change and the world changes. So, if you ask, what can we do?
1. Prepare a list of needs when going shopping. This way, you will not buy more food than you need. Also, a little tip: don't go shopping on an empty stomach.
2. Store food correctly. Improper storage leads to huge amounts of food waste. Since most people do not know how to store fruits and vegetables, the food can rot. For example; Potatoes, tomatoes, garlic and onions should be stored at room temperature, not in the refrigerator. Some foods contain“ethylene gas”. Ethylene accelerates the ripening of foods and can cause spoilage. Bananas, avocados, tomatoes, melons, peaches, pears, green onions contain ethylene gas. To prevent premature spoilage, keep these foods away from ethylene-sensitive produce such as potatoes, apples, greens, strawberries and peppers.
3. Learn to preserve food. Pickling, drying, canning, fermenting and freezing processes ensure that food lasts for a long time and prevent waste. For example; canning overripe apples and turning them into applesauce or making pickles from carrots.
4. You can make smoothies from the foods you freeze. For example; You can add the strawberries or bananas you put in your refrigerator into your kefir or milk. Instead of consuming "ready-made fruit kefir" that you buy from outside, making it at home with your own fruit will be both healthier and tastier. It will also prevent waste.
5. Organize your refrigerator. Keep your refrigerator organized so you can see the food clearly and prevent food from spoiling. Use the First in, First Out (FIFO) method. For example; When you buy a box of strawberries, place the new package behind the old package. This will help to ensure that previous food is used, not wasted.
6. Instead of throwing away the food left on your plate, try reducing portions.
7. Reuse. If you are a coffee drinker, use its grounds. Coffee grounds are an excellent fertilizer for plants. It is also a natural mosquito repellent.
The practical tips in this article will not only help you waste less food, but will also save you money and time.
By reducing your home's waste every day, you can help protect the resources of the world and our country.
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