Food wastage has always been an important issue. Without proper management of food, we could lose natural resources, rivers would get polluted, and our health may suffer. Unfortunately, food wastage is one of the biggest streams of wastage in Singapore. Over the past decade, the amount of food wastage generated in the country has grown by about 20 per cent. The amount of food wasted in 2019 alone was said to be about 744 million kilograms. That is equivalent to around two bowls of rice per person per day.
There are various reasons as to why so much food is wasted in Singapore. Sometimes, food spoils because of improper handling or storage. Other times, we throw food away because it expires or no longer looks nice. The good news is that 9 out of 10 Singaporeans are concerned about the amount of food that is wasted in the country. It really just boils down on what we do about it.
If you are one of the people who want to help eliminate food waste in the country, one great way to start would be by educating your kids about the importance of the issue. Aside from being mindful about food waste yourself, sharing your positive behaviours at home could help secure a happier and healthier environment for our children’s future. This is an important topic, and no amount of spreading awareness online, not even if you buy SoundCloud plays will be as effective as raising children who are already mindful of the topic.
6 tips to avoid food wastage
Here are some easy ways you can avoid food wastage at home and teach your kids how to do so at the same time:
- Add some fun into the mix. One of the easiest ways to get kids excited for a task is by turning it into a challenge or a game. Try creating a savings jar and place money into it every time the family cuts down on food waste at the end of the week. Then, use the money to buy ice cream or a cake, or even plan a family vacation. You can also ask your kids to post their journey on not wasting food on their social media accounts to get more people interested in doing the same thing. The more households follow suit, the more food we will avoid wasting.
- Find ways to use parts of food that are usually thrown out and let your kids help you prepare them. The tops of carrots and vegetables skins, for example, can be used in salads or in vegetable broth. By letting your kids help you in preparing leftovers, they can see how to best utilise uneaten food without wasting it. Make sure you explain why you are doing this, as well.
- Serve appropriate portions. Before preparing and serving meals at home, ask your kids how hungry they are so you can plan their meals accordingly. This will make them a part of the conversation and will ensure that no excess food goes to waste. There isn’t much sense in preparing and cooking a lot of food if much of it will simply go uneaten and possibly thrown in the trash.
- Stick to your shopping list. A Nielsen Shopper Trends report shows that 40 percent of Singaporean shoppers are impulsive buyers and grab items at the grocery store that aren’t actually on their grocery lists. 23 percent also admit that they don’t plan out their grocery trips at all. Unfortunately, buying more than what you need could result in food spoilage and expiration. By planning ahead and sticking to your plan, you can ensure that nothing that you buy goes to waste. If you shop with your kids and they ask for extra snacks and food, make sure you explain this to them properly so they know why they aren’t getting all of the treats that they ask for. While it is okay to buy your kids treats every now and then, make sure you set proper limits so that you don’t end up buying too much food.
- Make creative use of your leftovers. If you have some leftover vegetables from a meal, for instance, you can try sauteeing them and adding them to your next meal, like in a salad, in your rice, or on top of some pasta.
- Use various learning activities every day so your kids learn the value of food and how important it is not to waste any. Some easy ways to do this is to let them help you make your grocery lists, take out the trash, and cook your meals.
Do you have any other ideas on how you can teach your kids not to waste food? Share them with me. I’d love to hear about them.
