Fed up with throwing out lunchbox food? Here are four ways to stop food going to waste
Australians throw away about a quarter of the food that's purchased.
By Jon Owen, father of two and founder of Genus.
We all know that the planet needs our help. As parents, we have the power to raise a generation that can think about the environment in the right way.
We rarely see people drop litter in the streets anymore. Recycling is common practice. People make sustainable choices all the time, when they understand the benefits.
But did you know that food waste is a major contributor to global warming? As food is thrown away, it breaks down and releases methane – a greenhouse gas that is more than 20 times stronger than Carbon Dioxide.
In Australia, households throw away 246,000,000 tonnes of food every year. That’s about a quarter of the food we buy – one in four meals!
Food can be a battleground in many homes. Juggling busy lives and different tastes can seem daunting. Sometimes quick and easy seems like the obvious way to go. But with a little planning, we can make mealtimes much more enjoyable, healthy and sustainable.
With these simple tips, families can save money, help the planet and ensure our children eat well – all in one go!
Help put a stop to food waste with Jon Owen’s advice.
Three ways to reduce food waste
Talk and task – involve children in food decisions at home
Talking about food can unlock lots of benefits. Help kids understand how important the right food is – for healthy bodies AND the planet.
From there, they can help decide what’s for dinner, or what goes into their lunchbox. You’ll be amazed by how much more they’ll eat, if they feel like it’s their idea.
They can help write the shopping list, which should be written around lunch and dinner meal plans.
Planning meals with your children, and sticking to the shopping list (avoiding those last-minute impulse buys) will help reduce the food bill, as well as the amount of food that is thrown away.
Get creative – have fun in the kitchen together
When included in food prep, children feel helpful, grown-up and part of the process.
If cooking is too much to ask, they can help by gathering the ingredients from the cupboard or fridge. They can peel, chop, stir and mix – get them involved and make food fun again.
For example, to avoid food going to waste, give them the role of ‘leftover detective’; identifying food in the fridge that can be re-used or reimagined for their lunchbox.
When included in food prep, children feel helpful, grown-up and part of the process.
Re-evaluate how you shop and store food
Reduce food waste by storing things well at home, making food last longer. This includes setting the fridge at the right temperature (about 5 degrees Celsius), and using sealable, airtight containers where possible.
Try portion control by measuring out things like pasta and rice before you cook it – the kids can help with this. This is all about looking at the way we think and changing behaviour patterns.
To reduce the impact of your food on the planet, you can also buy local, and buy food that is in-season. Buy organic and avoid plastic packaging where possible. Fresh food generally has a lower environmental impact than pre-prepared or processed foods, and fruit and vegetables are far more eco-friendly than meat. A balanced, healthy diet is usually a more sustainable one.
Gamify sustainability – have fun with food
Genus, a new child-focussed platform that makes saving the planet fun, suggests getting kids to embrace imperfect produce with a mission such as ‘Funny Food Friday’ , – including an odd-shaped fruit or vegetable in their Friday lunchbox.
There are lots of resources out there to help. Love Food Hate Waste is a government-run initiative that has great information and their latest Genus campaign, Make Wasty Tasty provides families with 5 free, easy and fun mini-missions to tackle food waste at home and in schools.
