Nowadays, the issue of food waste is a concern for many countries, especially developed ones. Therefore, teaching children the importance of food and not wasting it is crucial. Let’s explore the tips for preventing food waste that parents should know through the following article.
1 Plan for the week
The best way to reduce food waste in each family meal is to plan and calculate the meals for the week in advance. This not only helps reduce leftover food but also saves time for shopping, cooking, and gas used for cooking.
Although this method may be challenging for many people, it brings many positive aspects such as reducing excess food for both children and the whole family, suitable for housewives who don’t have to think about what to cook tonight.
Plan for the week
2 Limit snacks before meals
Many young children often like to snack before main meals, which makes them eat less, lose interest in the main meal, and waste food without getting enough necessary nutrition for their bodies.
Therefore, parents should limit snacking before main meals, helping children enjoy their meals more and be good for their health.
Limit snacks before meals
3 Prepare easy-to-eat food
Preparing easy-to-eat food will make children more interested in eating, avoiding food waste. For example, instead of giving a whole fruit for children to bite, you can cut them into small bite-sized pieces, which will make it easier for children to eat.
Prepare easy-to-eat food
4 Give funny names to food
A study at Cornell University has shown that “fun” with food will make children eat more by giving funny names to vegetables.
5 Allow older children to serve themselves
When older children can serve themselves food, parents should let them do it. Children will take appropriate portions of food that suit their tastes and preferences, and if they are still hungry, they will take more.
Allow older children to serve themselves
6 Parents should portion food for younger children
Younger children cannot serve themselves food or estimate how much they will eat. Therefore, parents should proactively give food to their children with an appropriate amount to avoid cases where children take too much and cannot finish.
Parents should portion food for younger children
7 Note the food that children don’t eat
There are some foods that children do not like to eat, in which case parents should not force them to eat more, and at the same time, ditch the idea of “cooking it and the child will have to eat it”. This unintentionally creates pressure for children in each meal and causes food waste.
Note the food that children don’t eat
8 Teach children about the value of food
Teaching children about the value of food, the harm of food waste to the environment will help children understand the importance of food and eat more efficiently, avoiding food waste.
Teach children about the value of food
Above are 8 useful tips for preventing food waste that parents can refer to. It is hoped that these pieces of information will help parents nurture and educate their children better.
Source: mamnon.com
“4 Tips to Avoid Wasting Food at Home”
A recent survey conducted by Electrolux in the Asia-Pacific region has revealed an alarming statistic: a majority of households in Vietnam are discarding an average of 2 plates of food each week. The survey, conducted by the renowned home appliance brand, found that 87% of households are engaging in this needless waste.