Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Food Waste Declines as Schools Buy More Local Food

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Food waste is a common problem nowadays. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the global volume of food wastage is about 1.3 billion tonnes every year.

Schools contribute a lot to this number, too, and the most wasted are fruits and vegetables. A study by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency of Minnesota public schools estimates that about 23.9 percent of the total waste comes from food.

But here’s the good news: a recent report has shown that food waste declines as schools buy more local food. Read more in this article written by Dan Charles on NPR:

As Schools Buy More Local Food, Kids Throw Less Food In The Trash

More and more schools are trying to serve meals with food that was grown nearby. The U.S. Department of Agriculture just released some statistics documenting the trend. Read more…

Aside from encouraging schools buy more local food, another solution to end food wastage is to schedule recess before lunch. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that this can reduce waste for up to 30 percent. “Smarter lunchroom strategies” like getting creative with names and their location in the cafeteria can also increase fruit and vegetable consumption by 70 percent.

Parents can also encourage their kids to eat healthier by starting in their homes – always serve whole and real foods.

Image Credit: As Schools Buy More Local Food, Kids Throw Less Food In The Trash – NPR

The post Food Waste Declines as Schools Buy More Local Food appeared first on NUTRITIONCLUB.



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