Nearly One-Third of Food Produced Is Wasted

Approximately One-Third of Produced Food is Wasted Food waste is a much larger problem than many of us realize. Approximately one-third of all food produced in the world is wasted for various reasons. This means that approximately 1.3 billion tons of food end up in the trash each year. Reminding us that the food we discard is not just a waste of money, nutritionist Dyt. İrem Altıparmak from DoktorTakvimi notes that discarded food decays and produces methane gas, thereby contributing to climate change. Dyt. Altıparmak, who also points out that water is being wasted excessively, stated: "According to the World Resources Institute, 24 percent of all water used in agriculture is lost each year through food waste. This means approximately 170 trillion liters of water. It is in your hands to prevent this."

Recommendations from Dyt. Altıparmak for Those Who Want to Prevent Food Waste

-Prepare a shopping list before you go shopping. This way, you will not buy more food than you need. Also, a small tip: do not go shopping on an empty stomach. -Store food properly. Incorrect storage leads to large quantities of food waste. Many people do not know how to store fruits and vegetables, which is why food can spoil. For example, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic and onions should be kept at room temperature, not in the refrigerator. Some foods contain "ethylene gas." Ethylene accelerates the ripening of food and can cause spoilage. Bananas, avocados, tomatoes, melons, peaches, pears and green onions contain ethylene gas. To prevent early spoilage, keep these foods away from ethylene-sensitive products such as potatoes, apples, greens, strawberries and peppers. -Learn to preserve food. Pickling, drying, canning, fermenting and freezing processes allow food to last longer and prevent waste. For example, you can preserve over-ripe apples and turn them into apple puree, or make pickled carrots. -You can make smoothies from frozen food. For example, you can add strawberries or bananas from your freezer to your kefir or milk. Instead of consuming ready-made fruit kefir from outside, making it at home with your own fruit will be both healthier and help prevent food waste. -Organize your refrigerator. Keep your refrigerator organized so you can clearly see the food and prevent it from spoiling. Use the First In, First Out (FIFO) method. For example, when you buy a box of strawberries, place the new package behind the old one. This will help ensure that previous food is not wasted and is used. -Instead of throwing leftover food on your plate into the trash, try reducing portions. -Reuse. If you are a coffee drinker, take advantage of your coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are an excellent fertilizer for plants. It is also a natural insect repellent.