Bringing back our connection to food.
Wasting less and getting more intentional with what’s on our plates.
Think about the last meal you ate. Where did every single ingredient on your plate come from? What’s its story? It may sound like a funny question at first, but when I think back to breakfast, I have no idea where the chicken laid those eggs or what its diet was like, where my spinach was grown, or how far my coffee traveled to get to the store.
When did we become so disconnected from our food–the earth for that matter? It’s a gift. It provides us a place for our two feet to stand. The essentials for life. Air to breathe. Nutrients from plants and animals to nourish our bodies. But we treat it as a disposable resource and waste much of the food it provides us with.
When we throw moldy fruit or expired meat away, we’re not only wasting the food and packaging, but ALL the resources it took to grow, package, and ship. (This really puts things into perspective.)
40% of the food produced each year in the United States ends up in a landfill or is left to rot in the field.
So, what can we do as an every day person?
Ways to reduce food waste.
Only buy what you need. It helps to go the store with a list, weekly meal plan, or budget. This limits the marketing temptations (they’re really good at what they do). You may also find it best to shop more frequently, getting things you need only for the next couple of days. And don’t forget the first rule of shopping…NEVER go on an empty stomach. I’ve gotten caught way too many times going to the store on a grumbly tummy and leaving with things I don’t need.
Store foods to maximize their life. Save the Food is a great resource to get you started.
Compost. If you must toss produce away, use it as plant food for your garden. It makes great fertilizer :)
Check out other tips and tricks here.
Ways to be more connected to our food.
Buy local. If you’re buying from a local farmer, you know exactly where that animal was raised or you can ask about the farming practices they used to grow your veggies. You may appreciate the food more if you know who and where it was produced and waste less of it. You’re also reducing carbon footprint with less food miles (how far it travels from farm to your doorstep).
Purchase from companies that are doing it right. Pay attention to how the animal or plant was raised or grown. What are the animals fed? Do they use fertilizers on plants? Are their practices regenerating the land or only taking from it? Do your research.
Grow or raise your own. Don’t think you need to drop everything and start a large farming practice. Start small. Think of the veggies you eat most. Start growing a few of them to get your feet wet. If we produce it ourselves, we’re more likely to value it. Take better care. Waste less.
Buy ‘real’ food. We have no connection to food that’s wrapped in plastic or produced commercially with unnatural ingredients. Buy from the outskirts of the grocery store. Buy food without an ingredient list–real food.
Take time to think about where the food you’re eating came from. When you sit down for your next meal, take a look at your plate and ask yourself where it came from. Give gratitude for it– thanking the earth, the farmer, and the ability to give your body its nutrients.
Being more intentional with our food choices allows us to waste less and have a better connection to our food and the earth that gave it to us.
If you have any additional tips or tricks you’d like to share with us, make sure to comment below or send us a message!
