200 Food Decisions

Food is a joy but we are becoming increasingly aware that it is also a privilege. Just because produce is apparently abundant and cheap does not mean that it will always be so, or that our misuse of resources is not having an adverse effect elsewhere in the World. 

As we understand more about the stresses that the human race is putting on the planet, and each other, so ethical eating becomes more of a minefield. We are faced with increased choices of what and how to eat and with these new choices there come further implications of our effect on the world in which we live.

Psychologists have worked out that we make at least 200 food choices, each day!

With so many decisions in our lives it may seem as though there is too much to take on board and that it would be easier just to ignore the confusion and do nothing.

On a more positive note, effective change starts with small steps. Choosing an area where you have influence and can see the difference helps to make it more achievable. This is even better when you can see a positive result in your own life immediately.

So what can we do in our own lives to cut down on this waste? We need to look at  how we shop, store and utilize the food that we buy with the aim of consuming the majority and minimizing wastage.

This can all be achieved in a variety of ways.

• By controlling our spending habits we can shop wisely, buying only what we will expect to consume over a given period.

• A lot of waste is down to poor storage and there are techniques for improving this.

• Then there is how we approach meal preparation. Rather than seeing each meal as being a standalone event what we can look at is how leftovers can be turned into something new & inviting. As opposed to binning what is left and starting afresh with new ingredients.

Even if you are not shopping to cook for yourself or to feed a family you can take a look at your own eating habits.

By not shopping on an empty stomach you can avoid stocking up with perishable snacks that will never get eaten.

The way that you store fruit can make it last longer and even encourage you to eat more of it.

Avoid restaurants that take pride in oversized portions that you will never complete and resist the temptation to take more than you require from buffets. A restaurant made a point recently when it banned a family for repeatedly over filling their plates, it was after all an ‘all you can eat’, not ‘all you can waste’, offer.