Love Your Leftovers

Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. World Environment Day 2013, which is June 5, focuses on reducing food waste and food loss. Every year 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted, while one in seven people in the world go hungry every day, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

A smallholder dairy farmer, 35-year-old Oloka John, his wife and three children, use every resource to improve their livelihoods. Photo by Dan Bazira, Senior IT Communications Coordinator, Heifer UgandaA smallholder dairy farmer, 35-year-old Oloka John, his wife and three children, use every resource to improve their garden's production. Photo by Dan Bazira, Senior IT Communications Coordinator, Heifer Uganda

Heifer International provides families around the globe with opportunities to boost their nutrition and live sustainable lives. Many families, like Ugandan dairy farmer Oloko John's family, creatively use every resource available. They spread cow dung on their gardens and use an energy-saving stove.

World Environment Day's theme, "Think. Eat. Save. Reduce Your Footprint" encourages the world to eat smart instead of wasting still edible food. There are a few ways to reduce your footprint and love your leftovers.

  1. Use your Freezer
    Freezing food will keep leftovers fresh until you have the taste for them again, or can use them in another recipe. Don't forget you can do this with take-out or restaurant leftovers too.
  2. Begin Composting
    Food, although a benign substance, needs light and air to properly compost. Food is buried in landfills, which produces environmentally harmful methane gas.
  3. Leftover Recipe Night
    One night a week, gather all your leftovers and have fun creating new recipes. Get your kids involved in the process and hold a contest for best recipe. Cleaning your fridge will also save you time and money.

You can help families live healthier lives.