Food waste is a huge problem. Around the world, a third of all the food produced goes to waste. In the USA alone, we throw away $218 billion worth of food every year! This is not just an environmental concern; it’s also an economic one. If we could reduce our food waste by even 15%, it would save Americans up to $20 billion annually on their grocery bills. In addition, composting is a great way for aging family members to do their part in helping protect the environment and lower their own carbon footprint. As seniors form an important part of our population, it makes sense that their lifestyle choices will also have an impact on how much waste gets sent to landfills every year—which means that those in senior community housing in Cary, NC can play an important role in reducing how much food ends up at the curb instead of being consumed by humans!
What Is Food Waste?
Food waste, also known as food loss, is defined by the United Nations as “the decrease in quality and quantity of food available for human consumption after harvest, through spoilage or destruction (e.g., rotting), as well as losses during post-harvest handling and storage.”
Food waste can take many forms. Unwanted food includes expired items that have passed their use-by date; spoiled foods that no longer smell or look edible; discarded bulk items like stale bread loaves; and even leftovers that weren’t eaten at one meal but were saved for later. Spoilage refers to any deterioration caused by biological agents such as bacteria and fungi as well as other processes oxidation (air exposure) or enzyme action–that occurs after harvest but before consumption takes place.
The Causes Of Food Waste Behavior
A lack of knowledge, poor food management, and food safety cause food waste behavior. The following are some of the most common causes:
- Poor food management – Food not properly stored or handled can become unsafe to eat. For example, if you leave cooked chicken out at room temperature for too long, it will spoil and should be discarded. If you don’t refrigerate leftovers immediately after cooking them, they may also need to be disposed of because they have been at risk for contamination from microorganisms like Salmonella or E-coli during their time out of the refrigerator (or freezer).
- Lack of knowledge about food safety – Most people know that washing hands with soap before handling food helps prevent illness, but many do not realize how important it is to keep utensils clean! Using a dirty knife on raw poultry or meat could cause cross contamination which can lead to illness if eaten later down the road.
Why Is Food Waste A Big Issue For Seniors?
Food waste is an issue that affects all age groups, but aging family members in retirement communities face additional challenges when it comes to managing their food.
As they age, many aging family members find it more challenging to cook for themselves or even prepare meals for one person. This can be due to health conditions that make cooking more challenging or simply because of a lack of kitchen space (and patience). Additionally, many aging family members live alone and are less likely than younger people to have roommates who cook with them, which means that if you want dinner at 6 p.m., there’s no one around who can help make it happen!
Retirement Communities Can Help
Retirement Communities in Cary, NC, can be a great way to reduce senior food waste. Seniors living in senior communities tend to eat healthier meals cooked from scratch by professional chefs who know how much food goes into each meal and how long it will last before spoiling.
Seniors living alone may not be able to afford this type of service at home, so these apartments provide them with an opportunity for better nutrition without having extra money spent unnecessarily on groceries that end up going bad before being eaten because there wasn’t enough planning beforehand.
