Food, glorious food. You may live to eat in your daily life but did you know that the average human being contributes to at least fifty kilograms of food waste every year. That’s right, fifty kilos of food that you tossed out because it got spoiled, turned stale or because you just didn’t like it enough. And even if you’re living in the best hostel in Delhi, you know the number of times you’ve ordered food just because you didn’t feel like having the dining hall fare is contributing majorly to your overall food waste figures.
So, how can you limit the amount of food that’s going to waste in your own hostel? You don’t need to start a full scale kitchen revolution to make a difference. Changing your food habits a little bit can be enough to do the trick. Today we’re going to take a look at your stash of snacks, your shelf in the shared fridge and your grocery shopping list to see how we can revamp your consumption habits to reduce food waste.
Don’t shop while you’re hungry
Yes, we know that hostel residents are always hungry, but one of the major mistakes you can make when you’re going for your weekly grocery run is to do so on an empty stomach. The reason is simple: if you’re shopping while hungry, you’re going to end up making a lot of impulse purchases based on what matches your immediate craving. You might end up raiding the snack aisle without even looking at the fruits, a decision you’ll regret later in the week. Instead of this, make sure you’re fully fed, calm and have a list of supplies that you want to pick up before you head to the store.
Identify consumption patterns
Are you always buying a huge number of fruits in the hope of eating healthy, leaving them in the back of your fridge, and ending up throwing them out once they rot? As anyone who’s seen a hostel fridge will tell you, you’re not the only one. That’s why it’s important to identify your consumption patterns. If you routinely buy a bunch of stuff that you never eat, it’s time to rethink buying them. Your wallet and the environment will both be grateful. Plus, you can use the money that you save here to buy something else that you’ve been eyeing for a while.
Store food properly
The bunch of bananas that you’ve bought won’t go brown as quickly if you store them correctly. Same goes for that opened packet of corn chips you didn’t reseal after snacking. You can rely on a tried and tested rubber band to keep all your opened packets tightly sealed or invest in some inexpensive sealing clips that work wonders at keeping your snacks airtight. When it comes to storing your fresh fruits and vegetables, the fridge is your friend. And even if you think that some fresh produce you bought has lost its crispness, consider using it up as a cooked item. Fruits can work especially well in a whole manner of microwave desserts, but you could just as easily chop up a slightly wilted carrot or capsicum into your usual Maggi.
Switch to a better hostel
If you’re never going to be happy with boring old hostel fare, it’s time to rethink your accommodation situation. Moving to a professionally managed residence like Stanza Living might be a better option for you. They provide healthy and delicious chef-cooked meals that you won’t want to skip on. And to ensure that you never feel the need to waste, they’ve even got a dynamic food menu so that you’re always spoilt for choice. If you live somewhere you actually like the food that’s served, you’ll be a lot less likely to waste anything.
And there you have it. Four simple and sustainable techniques to prevent food waste while you live in a hostel. Practising these methods regularly will help you limit the amount of waste and increase your savings simultaneously. And that’s a win-win situation that we love.
