By: Emily Grant – Director of Operations
Every morning I wake up and read the news, and there are days when I feel pretty helpless. It is easy to get stuck in a dark hole whether it is about politics, global wars, our environment… and the list goes on. I am sure you know the feeling.
And yet. I remember when I had my first job after finishing college and working at a Title 1 school in California. I would hear teachers say (and remind me) that change can happen with one person, one student at a time. If you change one person’s world, you can change the world.
Over the years that has really stuck with me, and has helped me overcome times of apathy or cynicism. As we continue to fight for food security through our work with FoodRecovery.org, there are things each of us can do at home that make a difference.
Here is a short list to consider (and I bet you are already doing at least one of these):
- Plan weekly meals: each Sunday I sit down and look at the week ahead to see what meals to make and when we might be going out. It helps so I don’t overbuy and have food go bad (especially with the cost of food these days, I definitely don’t want that!)
- Keep your ends and stems: If you are a cook like me, you can freeze your carrot tops, and celery ends and make a soup stock
- If you aren’t so much of a cook, consider compositing or vermicomposting with worms (you can do this on a budget if you are game for a little building!)
- Have a leftover night every week: I love leftovers because it gives me a night off from cooking plus an opportunity to eat through the fridge.
- First in first out: keep the foods that need to get eaten up front and center. Consider adding a bin with a label “eat me first” so it doesn’t get lost in the back of the fridge. (And who hasn’t found the old lasagna a month later in the back of the fridge, right?)
- Be cautious with couponing and warehouse-style shopping: Don’t get me wrong, I love wholesale shopping as much as the next person, but since I am feeding only two people, many of the quantities are just too much for us, and can go bad. (Now, if you have a large family, an extra freezer or share with neighbors or friends, by all means, go for it!)
- Shop local: If and when you can support your local farmers and producers, sign up for a CSA or go to the farmers market.
Whether you love local honey, produce, meat or seafood, it makes a huge difference to the local economy and environment. Here is a photo of me shopping locally at Honeyside Farms!
- Want to save even more? Go towards the end of the market day or as the farmer is wrapping up. You may not have the same variety but more likely you can bargain since the produce might be tossed otherwise, and if the farmer can make a sale, they would prefer that than take the loss.
I don’t do all these things all the time. That would be impossible and unrealistic, but I try to incorporate at least one on a regular basis. It makes me push against the feelings of helplessness and reminds me that one person can make a change.