Monday 20th May 2013: The chief executive of Tesco, Philip Clarke is to launch a major campaign against food waste this week. In the UK, it is estimated that the average family wastes nearly £700 a year by throwing out food they do not eat. Which is a lot of money wasted when many families are struggling as it is with the cost of bills sky high. Moreover there’s a much bigger issue for our planet! As the demand for food and the pressure on the world’s natural resources keeps growing.
On reflection, how many you cook a little too much then throw away the extras? Buy 3 for 2 offers and not use them before they go off? Impulse buy things you do not really need? Throw away fruit and vegetables that could still be eaten?
In the past I have written about about conscious eating and how what you choose to consume affects your body’s vibrations. Subsequently what you eat and waste 
also impacts the well being of the environment, which itself is a broad topic on its own and extends beyond sustainable farming of crops and animals. Issues such as food security, population explosion, natural resources depletion and global weather pattern all impact the economic and environmental sustainability. Although some of these are out of our control, each one us can be more conscious of our interactions with the environment and ensure we do our bit to keep it as pristine as naturally possible. It won’t be a pretty sight when the planet turns into a massive smelly landfill site. So lets begin now by good food planning, preparation and storage, which will save you money on your food bill too.
• Check the ingredients in your fridge and cupboards, and write a list before shopping.
• Plan what you’ll eat for a few days or the whole week and shopping accordingly.
• When you buy new food from the store, bring older items in your cupboards and fridge to the front.
• If you know you are not going to eat everything, have half and then have seconds if you are still hungry. Leftovers can be cooled, stored in the fridge and used another day.
• Fruit that is just going soft can be made into smoothies or fruit pies. Vegetables that are starting to wilt can also be used up.
-‘Best before’ dates refer to quality rather than food safety. Foods with a ‘best before’ date should be safe to eat after the ‘best before’ date, but they may no longer be at their best.
-‘Use by’ dates refer to safety. Food can be eaten up to the end of this date but not after even if it looks and smells fine. Always follow the storage instructions on the pack.
Tip of the month: Switch to Reusable Shopping Bags
Many people think that throwing food in the landfill is ok. It’s biodegradable after all, so doesn’t create problems. The trouble is, more often than not, the biodegradable food gets wrapped inside a non-biodegradable plastic bag! If the air doesn’t get to the food then it won’t rot down. Worldwide, up to a trillion plastic bags are used and discarded every year—more than a million per minute. Start using re-usable bags made from canvas, woven synthetic fibres, or thick plastics sturdier than plastic or paper bags. Many fashion stockists have started selling eco-friendly bags with trendy colours, designs and prints.
