Plan ahead to cut food wastage

’TIS the season again. No, not sharing and giving... they’re already too cliché. But the season of severe food wastage.

Christmas season is a time where parties and celebrations are everywhere. And where there are parties and celebrations, expect lots and lots of food.

In a summary report by the World Food Organization, it estimates that one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted and most of the wastage happen during the holidays.

As the Worldwatch Institute reported, people generate three times as much food waste during the holidays as in other times of the year.

This is so appalling since according to SWS survey conducted in June this year and reported by SunStar Manila, there are 2.2 million hungry Filipinos. It is the lowest record since 2004.

So before you head to the groceries these holidays, plan ahead. Planning is not only for emergency situation, but also in food wastage reduction.

Before going to malls and groceries, list down your menu for the holidays and how much food you need. In this stage alone, you need to be realistic, how much food you and your family and/ or guests can actually consume.

And no, the reasoning “Bakit, kung kakainin ko ba lahat ‘yan mabubusog ang nagugutom?” is not accepted, and in fact, stupid. That’s why you need to plan ahead so that there will be no food wastage.

And if you have lots of food in your fridge, either given by someone or you just bought unplanned, there are 2.2 million hungry Filipinos out there whom you can share your food with. And you don’t need to look far; they are everywhere. You only need to open your eyes and your heart to share; and to reduce food wastage.

— Sunnex