Blog – 1

If you think about it, the increase in zero-waste cooking is a blessing that has come out of this pandemic. It is an art that is practiced on a larger scale now, more than ever before, as every single day, more people take a step forward towards reducing their waste and living a more sustainable life. As much as this practice has been growing, it’s still not widely known. If you happen to be a part of it, I’ll strongly encourage you to watch “Wasted! The Story of Food Waste,” a film by Anna Chai and Nari Kye released in 2017. Truthfully, this movie was the reason why my closest friend and I changed our habits to contribute to a zero-waste lifestyle.

With the increase in the news articles about environmental issues and climate change, it is essential to ask yourself questions like, can I bring a positive shift in my lifestyle for the betterment of the environment, and if so, what kind of change? The most basic one is introducing yourself to a zero-waste lifestyle. It doesn’t require you to make huge dietary changes, like going vegan, but it encourages you to waste as little as possible.

But why is zero-waste cooking so important? According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, approximately 1.3-billion tonnes of food in the world is wasted each year, and that’s one-third of all the food produced. Now, this estimate makes people at least indulge in zero-waste cooking.

Social media is beneficial because food influencers and chefs share their zero-waste recipes with everyone. One famous zero-waste chef/influencer that I can recommend is Max La Manna; his tips have greatly helped me make small changes in my daily life to control food wastage.

The key demographics participating in bringing a change to their cooking habits are millennials and Gen Zs. They associate themselves with zero-waste cooking by shopping at environmentally sustainable grocery stores. Whole Foods Market continues to encourage consumers to buy healthier options with zero-waste packaging and portion size options.
Additionally, restaurants have been making an effective change. This effectively helps nature as it has been reported that nearly 10 per cent of the food that restaurants purchase is wasted before even making it to the customer. The main reasons for that are oversized portions, food storage issues and extensive choices on the menu. If restaurants keep up with the zero-waste policies, it can significantly reduce that number over the upcoming years.

Zero-waste cooking is an excellent way for individuals to be creative with their time during the COVID-19 pandemic while simultaneously benefitting the environment. The reducing, reusing and recycling of food and its packaging can help limit greenhouse emissions and conserve energy. A funny way of looking at this can be that a person’s “waste” can become something “new.”

So, be creative and sustainable for yourself and the environment. Now to rest my case, a question to you is, the next time you have leftovers, what’re you going to do with them?