Tips to down on food wastage
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Even if you aren’t a Muslim, being in Dubai during Ramadan gives us a fair idea of what the month is all about. Just being in the city at this time, we get a feeling of what our Muslim friends practice — self restraint, discipline, and sharing of blessings.
Interestingly, this year some of my non-Muslim friends are also maintaining a fast. After fasting of course, all of us, those fasting or not, come together for a feast at iftar.
Whether you have iftar at home or at a restaurant/hotel, it’s always a lavish spread of the most delectable treats. In my 16 years in the UAE, I have been to so many iftar gatherings I know it’s the most looked forward to time in the day, and with reason.
Women of the house spend hours preparing the meal as feeding family and friends is a sign of love and hospitality and food must never fall short. In any household across cultures, food must always be in abundance and understandably so. But what we don’t realise is that sometimes this leads to excess and wastage of food. I’ve always been conscious of this, and now even more so.
For the last two years I’ve been closely associated with the World Food Programme (WFP) as their celebrity partner and this has made my beliefs even stronger. WFP is the largest humanitarian organisation fighting hunger worldwide with nearly half of its total beneficiaries in Muslim countries. A couple of years ago, WFP launched a Ramadan campaign out of Dubai, and raised enough funds to provide 400,000 school meals to children across the Middle East.
Ramadan is a precious time to be a part of initiatives such as this. But having said so, we can make a difference with just a few changes in our planning. Wastage can be avoided at all levels. Here are a few tips that we must bear in mind to end food wastage :
* Stick to your list: Make a list of required items and stay away from offers like ‘buy two, get one free’ as we often pick up more than we need.
* Plan your cooking: We usually know how many mouths we need to feed. It’s wise to cook accordingly.
* Plan leftovers: Place any extra food in a cool, dry place as it will last longer and can be eaten later. Or if the food cannot be stored, contact your favourite charity or neighbourhood mosque and ask if they would accept unsoiled surplus food.
Ramadan is all about sharing our blessings. Just some thoughtful planning of meals can actually benefit so many people. We can all do this not just during Ramadan but the year round.