Don't Waste Food; Live Simply, So That Others May Simply Live.

Poverty is a very complex issue, but feeding food to someone isn't.

Namaste.

Have you ever dreamt of living in a better world? A world that is free from poverty, hunger and disease. We all have wished at some point in our lives that we were powerful enough to change the world, without realising that we have always possessed that power. Giving is not just an act, it holds a much deeper meaning in the lives of both the giver and the receiver. An act of giving and sharing not only transforms one as a human being, but also helps the less fortunate to lead a better life.

Apart from understanding the importance of giving, it’s equally important to understand how to contribute in a way that it benefits the needy in the best possible manner. When you donate to charity, you lend a significant helping hand in bringing about the welfare of communities with limited means.

Food waste is a bigger problem than many people realize. In fact, nearly one-third of all food produced in the world is discarded or wasted for various reasons. That equates to nearly 130 crore tons every year. According to the Food Waste Index Report 2021 published by the United Nations Environment Programme, 50 kg of food is thrown away per person every year in Indian homes.

Throwing edible food isn't just waste of money. Discarded food is sent to landfills, where it rots and produces methane gas, which is the second most common greenhouse gas. In other words, throwing out your food contributes to climate change. It wastes a huge amount of water too. According to the World Resources Institute, 24% of all the water used for agriculture is lost through food waste every year. That’s about 170 trillion liters.

So how can we, as individuals, bring about change? The staggering figures of food waste attributed to households and their irresponsible consumption patterns means that change needs to begin in our own homes. Calculated purchasing when buying groceries, minimising single-use packaging wherever possible, ordering consciously from restaurants, and reconsidering extravagant buffet spreads at weddings can go a long way. And for the food that is left behind? Feed someone else or, at the very least, compost it so it doesn’t end up in landfills.

You can start with influencing simple decisions about your own food consumption, and then get people in your immediate community to join. Besides, there's some other thing along with food consumption that is one's duty right now; Feeding the Hungry.

Nearly 194 million people in India today don't have enough food to eat, the largest in any one country in the world. According to the Global Hunger Index 2021, India falls under the serious hunger category with a rank of 101 among 116 countries. A study suggests that more than half of the India population goes to bed without food. One in every four children is malnourished, making the country home to one third of the world’s malnourished children. Close to 3,000 of these die every single day, due to diet related illnesses.

"We don't need to cure hunger - we know how to solve hunger - it's food, it's nutrition, and it's really a question of access."

We see it every day; Around streets, at traffic signals, peeping in through the shining windows of the mall, waiting hopefully outside crowded restaurants. Sometimes on the weathered face of an old man, sometimes on the dirt-streaked face of an orphan, sometimes in the eyes of a tired mother, desperate to feed her skinny child. The haunted look of hunger.

If you're hosting any event, chances are you'll have a ton of leftover food that you'll throw away. Instead, you can do your bit and donate it for the benefit of those who aren't as privileged as you are.

Donate Food to the Needy & Homeless here: https://www.instagram.com/saattvikadaana_ngo/

Lemme know your thoughts in the comments. Thanks!

Jai Hind.