Americans WASTE One Pound of Food Every Day

re: Americans WASTE One Pound of Food Every Day

Katie B — Sun, 25 May 2008 04:53:30 GMT

Actually, not a scrap goes to waste when I eat out (which is at least twice a week), but when I cook at home, something always ends up going to waste (unless you count giving it to the dogs wasteful). I just need to figure out how to waste less when I cook at home. Because of the high gas prices (which is slowing down the economy), I've actually cut back on the amount of food I eat, and paying three dollars for a bag of cookies that could go into my tank instead (or better yet, into something better for me), just isn't an option anymore. Spending my hard-earned money on junk is wasting it (unless it's a special treat, and we're all entitled to one of those once in awhile. I just try to make sure it's a relatively healthy treat, as I don't think there's any such thing as a healthy cookie).

re: Americans WASTE One Pound of Food Every Day

Gazer — Sat, 24 May 2008 22:18:21 GMT

Socially responsible restaurants, grocery stores, and farmer's marketers, should donate leftover or excess food to food banks or homeless shelters rather than have food go to waste. Consumers, in turn, should only buy enough fresh food that they can realistically eat in a week, to cut back on needless waste.

re: Americans WASTE One Pound of Food Every Day

qualitygeek — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:53:53 GMT

We don't waste that much per day personally, because we are careful about planning meals, however, public eateries are typically terribly wasteful. In Florida, they now have an option thanks to an 11 year old.

Recently a young man from Florida, named Jack Davis, successfully lobbied for a new law allowing restaurants to donate leftovers to homeless shelters without fear of lawsuit. Before that law was created, restaurants would not donate because of liabilities associated with food-borne illnesses due to the donated left-overs.

Jack is a great example of being the change he wanted to see - he saw a problem & looked for a solution that resulted in Jack's Law - kudos to Jack!

re: Americans WASTE One Pound of Food Every Day

All Under Heaven — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:35:52 GMT

Not only that, but many people are practically overeating themselves into the grave since we enjoy such an abundant and surplus amount of food. While on the other side of the world, you have skeletal thin starving people and three year old children who weighs less than 10lbs.

It's not just food. If the US was willing to give donate a miniscule portion of its income, it would reduce the suffering of millions. As of yet, we're the most stingy nation when other nations contribute way more.

re: Americans WASTE One Pound of Food Every Day

Kelly LaBounty — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:04:29 GMT

God has recently been convicting me of this. He is showing me that, as a Christian, I cannot be the best steward even if I buy frugally, but then throw it out after it has sat in my fridge for a week. I am excited to get more in line with His will and help our trash problem on earth.

re: Americans WASTE One Pound of Food Every Day

Islander — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:03:52 GMT

Waste of any kind has always been anathema to me. When you are brought up to be aware that you have no control over what comes in, only over what goes out, you become super careful. So it's puzzling that there can be such cognitive dissonance between Americans who are shouldering the burden of immense credit card debt, and Americans who can afford to throw away a quarter of the food they buy.

Part of the reason may be that with the exception of the few who survived the Great Depression, Americans have never known food insecurity. We've also been trained to think that pets require "pet food," a concept invented in my lifetime. Prior to that, dogs and cats ate table scraps. For thousands of years. Hence the "doggie bag." I'm sure there are a hundred other reasons why we discard edible food. Perhaps shortages, rising prices and rationing will allow us at last to see the value of food through a different lens.

Afterthought: yes, I read the article, and yes, I know the English are just as bad, and yes, I know that restaurants and supermarkets are part of the problem. But so are you and I. Well, maybe not me. Anyway, I hope that out of the turmoil and tumult, some good will come. Let's all plant a victory garden!