Food isn't trash. Of course, it is true that our stomachs can get full easily, and some foods are just not enjoyable to everyone, but what people do not see is that every day, tons of perfectly good food is thrown away. It is bad enough that we throw away our food, but it is worse when that food is perfectly fine to eat. Schools need to take immediate action against this and so do students. Schools should let students decide the size of their portions, and students should only buy food that they will eat. Finally, students should not be allowed to throw large amounts of food away, or there will be more consequences than just wasted food.
One definite way we can reduce this is by letting students choose their food portions. A survey was taken of 51 7th grade students at UWCSEA East. 36% of grade 7 said that Sodexo meals are average sized. 28% said that it was below average and not more than 12% of the students said that their food portions were above average. This evidently shows that there should be at least three options of portion sizes for students to choose from, to avoid them dumping food that the school has provided for them. This will not only cut down on food wastage but keep the child refreshed, which could lead to a better, more focused approach to their learning.
Students should only take food that they will eat. It is not just a waste of money when children throw away their meals, but a waste of resources and time as well. If children bought food that they want to eat, they would finish it. At UWCSEA, students play many sports and get plenty of exercise. The right amount of food in combination with a lot of exercise can improve their nutrition and health. Sometimes on one’s plate remains food that is inedible, like banana peels, bread crusts etc. Instead of binning food, one good solution is to throw it in compost bins which are found near the gardens and music area. According to Zion Lights from OneGreenPlanet.org, composting is not only good for the soil and earth but can reduce emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels.
Therefore, this is beneficial for us and our planet.
Another way we can take action against this is not to let students throw away their food. Since many students clearly waste a lot of food, our school in particular should get teachers who are working lunch shifts to stand by the food bins and check how much food is being thrown away. Awareness should be spread as well, only then will people waste less. Not only should action be taken at school, but everywhere in the world. According to Channel News Asia, 790 million kg of food was wasted in Singapore during 2014, which is equivalent to each person in Singapore throwing away 2 bowls of food every day. There are organisations in Singapore where volunteers pick up leftover food from restaurants and donate it to poorer families.
A small course of action to keep away food wastage can go a long way.
Of course this is not only the school’s responsibility, but students as well. It is one thing for schools to make their students stop, but it is different when the students themselves learn to stop. There are many children all around the world who starve for days without a single grain of food. Food is a resource, not something we should take for granted. So spread the word. Food isn’t trash.
Lights, Zion. "5 Reasons Why Composting Is the Greenest Thing You Can Do." One Green Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2016.
Othman, Liyana. "Singapore Needs to Rethink Food Wastage: Masagos." Channel NewsAsia. Mediacorp News Group © 2016, 10 Jan. 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.
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