The latest report from the Food Waste Index 2024 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reveals shocking figures. It reports that Thais create an average of 86 kilograms of food waste per person per year , or about 240 grams per day, which is the second highest in ASEAN and higher than the world average of 79 kilograms per person per year. Currently, the United Nations has set a target for all countries to reduce the amount of food waste by 50% by 2030.
Solving the Food Waste Problem Must Start with “Consumers”
Ms. Tharinee Chanthakong revealed that in the entire food chain, consumers are the ones who create the most food waste. “Food waste comes from both household consumption and eating out. Common behaviors include not finishing food on your plate, taking or ordering too much food when you are hungry, and preparing more than enough food when you have guests or at a party. In addition, buying and hoarding ingredients without planning their use properly causes food to rot and eventually become waste.”
Nutrition according to age: How to eat just the right amount – without creating food waste
Eating food appropriate for one’s age is not only about health, but also effectively reduces food waste. Essential macronutrients are foods that provide energy to the body, including carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Secondary nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, play an important role in helping the https://ufabet999.app body function normally. A professional dietitian at Vimut Hospital explains, “Each age group has different nutritional needs.
School-aged children should receive the right amount of food for good growth and development. Recommended foods are 6-8 ladles of rice and flour, 4 ladles of vegetables, 3 portions of fruit, 6 tablespoons of meat, and 2-3 glasses of milk per day.
Working-age people should receive 1,600-2,400 kilocalories of energy per day, divided into 8-12 ladles of rice and flour, 6 ladles of vegetables, 4-6 portions of fruit, 6-12 tablespoons of meat, and 1 glass of milk. Sugar and oil should be controlled to no more than 6 teaspoons per day and salt should not exceed 1 teaspoon per day.
Elderly people should choose easily digestible foods, focusing on unpolished rice, lean meats, especially fish and eggs, as well as green vegetables that are high in magnesium. They should drink 6-8 glasses of water per day and should receive 1,400-1,800 kilocalories of energy, depending on their daily activity level.
Plan your meals, simple things that are healthy – help the world
Choosing the right foods and eating them in moderation is an important part of reducing food waste. It starts with changing your daily behavior.
1. Plan your food selection and check the expiration date before buying. Do not stock up on food more than necessary. If we buy ingredients for a long time and too much until we can’t eat them all, those ingredients will eventually expire and have to be thrown away, becoming food waste.
2. Finish all the food on your plate. Start by controlling the amount of food you eat. Don’t take too much or order more food than you can eat. In addition, eating sustainably also helps take care of the environment in another way.
3. Switch to plant -based foods about 2-3 times a week. Since meat and processed meat production have high environmental costs, including greenhouse gas emissions and resource use in animal husbandry.
“While these changes may seem difficult, we can start with simple things like finishing our plates, buying just the right amount of food, and choosing healthy food,” said Ms. Tharinee Chanthakong , adding that “ 1 in 3 of the food we eat every day is unnecessarily wasted. If everyone is aware of this and changes their lifestyle, we will be healthier and help the world reduce waste.”