By Nicole Brewer
World Food Day is coming up on October 16th. This year for World Food Day the United Nations World Food Programme has imparted an initiative to Stop the Waste. The purpose of World Food Day is bring public awareness to the problem of hunger across the world and what better way to promote this is by educating people on how they can stop the food waste in their lives. I also think it’s important to consider as globetrotters how we can stop the waste while we are traveling. Below are tips that we can take in order to Stop the Waste while we are trotting the globe.
One prime way that globetrotters can Stop the Waste is by cooking more while they are traveling. Depending on the location, I am all about staying in an Airbnb or hostel where I am able to cook while traveling. It’s a great way to not only save money but also when you prepare your own food, you will not be reliant on restaurants for all your meals. Having a kitchen or small fridge option is also great because you are more prone to eat your leftovers by having the option to refrigerate them.
2. Share Entrees or Tapas
If you are traveling with a group of people, its great to order dishes that you can share such as tapas. You are surely more likely to eat all of your food and Stop the Waste if you are sharing with a group of people. If you order say a main dish and then side salads and dessert afterward you’d be surprised to find that it is more than enough to fill up a party of 2 or more.
3. Give Away Your Left-Overs
I get it, everyone is not a fan of eating left-over food (I’m not part of everybody but hey lol). If you are in a location where there are underprivileged then why not pay it forward and give those left-overs to someone homeless on the street to Stop the Waste.
4. Check out the Local Farmers Markets
Farmers Markets are a great way to reduce food waste and are just plain healthy eating options altogether. It’s a sustainable way to eat because all of the food is locally sourced. Additionally, it’s an excellent way to learn about the food choices that are available in certain locations you are traveling to. The abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and baked goods make local farmers markets the way to go!
5. Bring Your Own Snacks
Another good way to Stop the Waste is by packing your own snacks, especially in reusable containers and bags for healthy snacks such as fruit, nuts, and vegetables. The less waste you can have, especially plastic bags while you’re hiking or traveling out and about can make a huge difference.
6. Order Half-Portions
Another good option is opting to order half-portions, as some restaurants are very accommodating to this choice. While some restaurants have special hours where smaller portions are available, it never hurts to ask to see if they’d be willing to assist you. Hey, usually the customer is always right so just give it a try, especially for us solo travelers where the portions tend to be too big.
7. Choose Ethical Restaurants
Lastly, its good to do our part and research restaurants that have ethical practices, such as giving away food at closing to those who need it instead of just throwing it out. Or restaurants that are green, from Farm to Table or vegan-friendly, because animal agriculture is a big reason for global pollution.
Do you have any other tips that you’d advise globetrotters to Stop the Waste? Feel free to leave your advice below in the comments.