How to fight food waste when eating out?

27 de September, 2023

According to the study “Closing the Food Waste Gap“, developed by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), it is estimated that one third of the world’s food is lost or wasted every year and that the global average of food waste per household is 75kg per year.

The same study predicts that by 2030, more than 840 million people will be hungry, which corresponds to a tenth of the world’s population.

Food waste therefore raises numerous moral and social issues. But it is also a global environmental problem.

When we waste food, we are also wasting water and other resources that were used in its production. In addition, food waste contributes greatly to greenhouse gas emissions.

The fight against food waste must invariably involve small actions that we, as citizens, can take in our daily lives. And this care must be taken when we eat at home, but also when we eat out.

Discover some practical tips that you can incorporate into your routine to make going out to restaurants more sustainable and responsible.

1 – Ask if it’s possible to reduce the portions of dishes

Especially when you already know a restaurant, you already know whether the portion sizes are suitable for you or not. If the portions served are excessive, let them know that the quantities on your plate can be reduced.

2 – Only order the side dishes you’re going to eat

Try to figure out which side dishes are included in a given dish: rice, salad, vegetables, French fries, sweet potatoes…

If you don’t intend to eat any of these side dishes, let the person serving you know beforehand. That way, you won’t be served that side dish unnecessarily on your plate.

3 – Ask them to remove ingredients you won’t be eating

The above tip applies to side dishes, but also to specific ingredients or foods that a dish may contain. For example, if you order a salad that has tomatoes in it, but you don’t like tomatoes, it’s better to ask them to remove the tomatoes than not to tell them and end up leaving them on the plate.

4 – Share dishes

The truth is that most of the meals served in restaurants are too large for just one person. And even when certain dishes say they are for two people, they may be enough for three.

Try to anticipate the quantities coming to the table and manage this. The same can be done with starters and desserts.

5 – Don’t have more eyes than belly, especially at buffets

In buffet restaurants, rodízio restaurants or so-called all you can eat restaurants, people often exaggerate the amount of food they think they can eat.

Try to be more rational in your choices: put smaller portions on your plate and repeat until you are satisfied, rather than bringing excessive amounts to the table straight away.

6 – Take the leftovers home

If, at the end of the meal, you have food left on your plate, ask to take it home. Most restaurants provide take-away boxes for this purpose too.

If you anticipate having leftovers, you can reuse boxes you already have at home and take them to the restaurant. In this way, you are also combating the consumption of packaging.

7 – Support sustainable and socially responsible restaurants

If you want to commit yourself even more to the fight against food waste, find out which restaurants are also taking an active role in this cause. For example, which establishments make their surpluses available on platforms such as Too Good To Go or have partnerships with charities such as Refood.

Give priority to restaurants and other food establishments that implement concrete measures to reduce food waste, favor the local economy and support disadvantaged local communities.