UNDERSTANDING the impact of what we eat on our plates and what we throw away on the environment is one lesson that young people are learning in a food waste program.
Coffs Harbour Family Day Care (FDC), educators have been taking part in The Lunch Makers, which is a new program to reduce food waste, help families save money, and help the environment.
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The new Lunch Makers program was launched this term to 26 caregivers, reaching more than 40 families in Coffs Harbour.
Families learned useful tips and tricks every week to make the most out of the food they purchase, while young children were empowered with the ability to prepare their own meals.
On average, students waste 3kg of food per year.
Recent studies have shown that students in WA throw away 3.5 Million uncooked sandwiches, 3,000,000 whole fruits, and 1.3 Million packaged foods each year.
Coffs Harbour Family Day Care was a partner with MidWaste, the NSW Love Food Hate Waste Team and MidWaste to manage the program during Term 2.
Bec Wales, Coffs Harbour Family Day Care, stated that the program was a great success.
Bec said that the Lunch Makers program has helped educators, families, and children understand the importance of food and how to reduce food waste.
We have explored the journeys food takes before it reaches our plates. This has helped us to understand healthy foods better through sharing recipes, cooking healthy snacks, and engaging in craft and art experiences.
In our discussions and explorations using compost bins, feeding our scraps to the chickens, and to our very own pig, we also highlighted sustainable ways to reduce food waste.
We also heard stories about children sharing their new healthy foods and reducing food waste with their families, which is then passed on to their families.
Wendy Grant, MidWaste project officer, said that families could learn how they can reduce food waste at their home by signing on for the free online Food Smart program. www.lovefoodhatewaste.nsw.gov.au/at-home/food-smart.
This project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority Waste Less Recycle More initiative that was funded from the waste levy.
By Andrea FERRARI
