

Danielle Lee FCE, Sustainability



For starters, here are two things you should never do:

Buy a week’s worth of groceries at one time.

The simple reason? The longer it sits in the fridge, the less likely it is to be eaten.

“Food waste is one of the biggest issues we have right now as a society,” Green says. “What happens is that people buy more than they can eat during the time that the food will still be fresh.”

By shopping more frequently, you can purchase food that is meant to be eaten in a shorter time frame.

Over prepare food for the week.

Are you really going to eat all of those Tupperware meals?

“People should only produce what they need in a certain amount of time, which eliminates food waste.”

Conversely, if you want to help create a hunger-free world, here are some ideas to get you started:

Eat more veggies.


How? A plant-based diet contributes to environmental sustainability by redirecting the energy used to grow and distribute each gram of protein towards plant-based crops that can be used to feed thousands of people.

“It takes, on average, over 50 times the amount of water to produce a gram of beef protein than it does to produce a gram of lentil protein,” Green explains.

Grow your own food.

Did you know that urban farms supply food to about 700 million city dwellers — one-quarter of the world’s urban population? An area of just three square feet can provide 44 pounds of food each year. Food grown in people’s yards means less transport and refrigeration costs and emissions — this makes food grown in urban farms more sustainable. They have been proven to also reduce air pollution.

“People can grow food at home, work, their apartment complex, they can be guerrilla gardeners and plant things all around them.”

Go to the grocery store every few days.

This means less food waste, and (bonus!) every day there is something new and delicious to eat!

“This way you constantly have fresh foods in your fridge instead of having food go bad and to waste.”

Share a meal with a friend to cut down food waste.

Another big place where food waste happens is in restaurants. Splitting a meal is a way to reduce food waste and your waistline.

“Meals in the United States are served in massive portions, so try getting two plates and ordering one meal. People will find that they feel better afterward and they got to enjoy that time with their friend.”

Want more ways you can help create a hunger-free world?

Discover the Hunger Hero Within You