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Growing up in post-colonial India, in an era that
prefaced running water, 24/7 electricity, and electronic
gadgets and appliances, I quickly learned about food economics. My emerging middle-class family, consisting of my parents, brother and me, had enough
to satiate our hunger, sans any frills or excesses. Shopping for seasonal fruits, vegetables and groceries was a daily ritual, picked up on
foot from the local markets, in home-sewn cotton bags. My mother – a local school teacher -- miraculously transformed raw foods into
delectable works of art on a kerosene-fueled pump stove in a dimly-lit,
windowless kitchen that doubled as a dining room. Peelings and spoils were
recycled back into mother Earth through composting. Dessert and fried foods were rare treats; every crumb
was savored and every bead of the used oil was reused. Water was our favorite beverage. "Dine
in" meant eat at home; "take out" was yet to be invented.
My parents excelled at planning and cooking the
appropriate amounts of food, regardless of the headcount. Leftover storage was
a non-issue as neighborhood volunteers consumed any occasional leftovers: a
poor neighbor, a slum dweller who served as a part-time maid, even cows or
dogs. Granted, the family’s economic reality dictated our choices; however,
the "don't waste" mantra was an inextricable part of our
non-materialistic muse, seamlessly woven into life’s facets like yarn in cloth.
Overall, a mindful, healthy and happy lifestyle rendered my family’s foodprint minimal.
Fast forward to 2013. The population has burgeoned. Global food production is up and has taken a big bite out of world hunger and
malnutrition. Food technology, pesticides, fertilizers, and state-of-the-art
irrigation, harvesting and processing have revolutionized agriculture and related
industries. Food packaging, storage and transportation is at its best, prolonging foods’
shelf-life and creating thousands of jobs. Yet, millions still languish in hunger while tons of avoidable food wastes end
up in landfills!
On the global front, food wastes in the entire supply chain
-- from farms to supermarkets -- have exhausted resources, destroyed
environmental balance, spawned food-price sticker shocks and possibly triggered
climate change. On the personal front, food wastes -- a symptom of our over-reliance
on modern conveniences coupled with gluttony and physical lassitude -- have detracted
us from the sustainable lifestyle the ancients had followed for millennia.
Looking back on my childhood, three lessons flare into
existence:
1. Awareness: Awareness of thoughts, actions and behaviors
can significantly influence our food habits. Plan ahead, buy and cook only what is needed, buy by the pound or the smallest available size, partner with a neighbor or friend to split bulk purchases, especially perishables, and eat mindfully. Such measures can save both the wallet and the environment.
2. Education: Buying local, emphasizing quality over appearance, and educating ourselves on ways to REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE avoidable food wastes are responsible
investments. Committing to live a healthy and sustainable lifestyle
can be a powerful motivator for our youth to identify and emulate zero-waste
practices.
3.
Connectivity: For the ancients, conservation was a way of life, perhaps an
economic and religious edict, but definitely one that evoked a deep
understanding of the synergy between all living things and the environment. The use of self-control to rise above the roar of hoarding and modern conveniences can help current and
future generations reconnect to their obscured, sustainable selves.
We have one Earth, characterized by an exploding population vying for finite resources. Food equity lies in embracing common-sense practices that reduce wastes, safeguard nature, and
inspire wisdom and harmony – not just for ourselves, but for all, for years to
come.
Join the United Nations Environment Programme on June 5 to celebrate World Environment Day and share your efforts to reduce your food wastage footprint or foodprint.
Well written and relevant!
ReplyDeleteI like the concept of mindful self-control, which will help both the consumer and the environment.
Awesome post Raji!
ReplyDeleteExcellent efforts Raji - thank you. A must in everyone's daily action, we owe it to Mother Earth do our part.
ReplyDeleteGreat though provoking post Raji, self control is my biggest enemy and needs to be looked at.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog and very well written.
ReplyDeleteNice post! You're right to underline that while we have now lots of food, there is still hunger on this planet. I believe there is a strong link between hunger and global policy. I recommend to study the work of Jean Ziegler, which is very relevant in that matter (although he himself may be subject to criticisms). He evens wrote that "A child who dies from hunger is a murdered child".
ReplyDeleteAs for "buying local", I used to be a supporter of the locavore movement, until I recently heard this podcast from Freakconomics radio ("You Eat What You Are, Part 2"), that shook my belief... I'm still forging my opinion on that, but what I hold for correct (for now) is that it would certainly be an improvement for our society if we modify our diet and consume less meat.
AN EYE OPENER ARTICLE. GR8 POST
ReplyDeleteWell compared and a wonderful article exposing the reality of the past and the present ! This is an excellent blog post Raji suggesting smarter ways for optimal consumption of food and for being judicious to the environment thereby passing on the best practices to our younger generation.
ReplyDelete