Episode 3 is now available on Spotify!!
Before sharing the notes for this episode, I just want to flag something from the previous episode focusing on plastic:
With the plastic items you recycle, make sure to wash them out first!!! If they still contain bits of food inside, they won’t be recycled! So important to keep that in mind. But again, looking to reduce purchasing plastic where possible is something we should all be focusing on, and making use of what we already have!
So, in this episode, we delve into another excessive waste problem, which is food waste!
This is really a massive global issue, and the actions we take in our households can be responsible for 50% of the solution, or if not addressed can continue to be 50% of the problem.
According to the UN, “a global shift toward plant-based food is vital if we are to combat the worst effects of climate change. Globally, animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all the world’s transportation systems combined.”
The truly detrimental impacts on the environment that animal agriculture has, along with the ethical issues regarding animal exploitation and sheer cruelty towards animals, are the main reasons I became vegan.
According to the UN, with further support from multiple studies, Globally, a third of food goes to waste. 1.8 billion people could be fed with the food waste produced globally.
This is one of the many problems at the cross roads between climate action and social justice.
“All the world’s nearly one billion hungry people could be fed on less than a quarter of the food that is wasted in the US, UK and Europe.” (OLIO)
“2.3 billion people are joining the planet by 2050 – this will require a 60-70% increase in global food production. Or we can just stop throwing away our food” (OLIO)
Some of the tips discussed in the episode:
Only buy what you need! Making a rough meal plan for the week, and then buying ingredients accordingly is a great way to do this. Also, try not to go shopping when you are hungry, because you’ll definitely end up buying more than you intended to.
Plant pot herbs!!! Also helps prevent plastic, and prolong life. Freeze herbs.
We discuss the pros and cons of bulk buying – bulk buying works best for dried foods such as rice, quinoa, oats, cous cous etc. I wouldn’t advise bulk buying fresh produce unless you know you will us it before it goes off, or you intend to freeze it.
Emphasising only buying what you need links back to one of the main principles of the concept of Lagom – taking only that which you need, to leave space for others to access those needs too.
Don’t always fall for buy one get one free. Often the extra gets wasted.
BUY ‘UGLY’ FRUITS AND VEG. Sad that often imperfect ones don’t even make it to the shop, so make sure they go to a good home!
If you have a garden, maybe consider growing some of your own vegetables! My parents do this, and something I’d love to do when I’m in a position where I can. It’s so rewarding and makes you really appreciate the time that goes into growing veg. also helps you understand the seasons for certain produce.
Check cupboards and fridge regularly to see what you’re using and what you actually need
A tip from the book ‘Minimal: how to simplify your life and live more sustainably’ by Madeleine Olivia – do a pantry and fridge challenge. Try using up the odd ingredients you have lying around and get inventive with your cooking. Try making new dishes with what you have, and you’ll also be saving money on your food shop, while using up what you have and not letting things go to waste.
Know how to store your fruits and veggies! Apples and bananas away from other fruits for example. More tips can be found here:
Cook and freeze meal portions - So when you’re lacking motivation to cook, or have a super hectic day and need something quick, it’s great to have an option there to use, rather than ordering take away, or buying a ready meal in the shop with wasteful packaging.
Try limit the amount you peel your veg – the skins can be eaten!! If bread has gone stale, use it to make breadcrumbs and if you don’t have an immediate use for them, freeze them until you do. Overripe bananas make a great banana bread, or work well in a smoothie.
Consider giving composting a go! There are outdoor and indoor methods for this. Here are some tips on how to do this:
So, let’s talk best before dates…… THEY ARE NOT LAW!
They are just guidelines, so you can use your initiative on this one. The food doesn’t know when it goes off, so the dates are just an estimate, often very under estimated so companies protect themselves. So don’t just go by the dates as you may be throwing away perfectly edible food!
DOWNLOAD THE OLIO APP!!
OLIO is a food sharing app aimed at reducing food waste and building a more sustainable future by sharing what we may not need with someone who can make use of it, and vise versa.
The website also has so much useful information, facts about food waste, ways to get involves etc.
Here’s the link to their website if you want to find out more:
The app is free, super easy to used and can be downloaded from the app store.
A quote from the website that really resonated with me:
“Food waste is really, really bad for the environment. It takes a land mass larger than China to grow the food each year that is ultimately never eaten – land that has been deforested, species that have been driven to extinction, indigenous populations that have been moved, soil that has been degraded – all to produce food that we then just throw away.”
Again, don’t feel the need to make these changes all at once, just making one small change at a time is so valuable and will ultimately be helping towards the solution to this problem.
Take the time you need to make changes you can sustain, and don’t beat yourself up when mistakes happen, because they always will. It’s a process, and it’s so easy to become overwhelmed with wanting to do as much as you can all at once, but remember no one is perfect, and the fact we are trying to help and making positive change is the most important.
Extra links/Resources from the episode:
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/food-waste-warriors Insightful information, and some uplifting stories regarding food waste initiatives
https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/259180 - Sign the petition urging supermarkets and restaurants to donate food waste
What ways have you found to reduce your food waste? I’d love to hear what you’re doing to be more eco-friendly and sustainable, and what finding a little bit of Lagom in aspects of your life looks like for you.
You can email me on alittlebitoflagom@gmail.com or drop me a message on Instagram @alittlebitoflagom
I hope you enjoyed the episode, and if you’re yet to give it a listen you can find it on Spotify! Have a wonderful day 😊
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