Wasting Less, Feeding More

Last month, Rick Gaupo shared some sobering statistics about hunger and food insecurity in our community. At the same time, I came across a striking contrast in the April issue of Rotary Magazine: one-third of all food in the United States is wasted.

The article highlighted several eye-opening—and frankly alarming—statistics:

• The average family of four spends approximately $1,500 annually on food that ends up uneaten.
• Decomposing food accounts for nearly 60% of the methane emissions from U.S. landfills.
• Globally, one in eleven people still suffers from hunger.

Despite these troubling figures, the article offered a glimmer of hope: 85% of U.S. households believe that Americans should make a greater effort to reduce food waste at home. Unfortunately, our wasteful habits continue to outpace our good intentions, with food waste volumes steadily increasing.

The article also suggested practical strategies for curbing food waste. Meal planning, designating a “use first” shelf in the refrigerator, and growing a home vegetable garden are all effective ways to reduce excess. The idea behind gardening is simple: when you’ve put time, effort, and sweat into growing your own food, you’re more likely to value and consume it rather than let it go to waste.

Reflecting on my own upbringing, I remember how careful my mother was about wasting food. Having experienced lean times, she knew the value of every meal. Studies show that food waste is more prevalent among affluent consumers than those who struggle to make ends meet.

Rotary Peace Fellow Elaine Pratley put it best: “We actually have enough food to feed everyone in the world.” The real challenge lies not in scarcity, but in building the national and global systems necessary to distribute this abundance to those who need it most.