Our hearts are full of gratitude as we eat and enjoy our food. We say that in acknowledgement of the story behind every ingredient we use and consume. Fresh corn from the Midwest, citrus from the coasts, and California vineyards- we’re blessed to have such great food readily available. Unfortunately, as a nation, we’re still heavily impacted by hunger, and many people have to budget or go without. That’s why today is a very special holiday for the entire world!
What is World Food Day?
October 16th is World Food Day! Created by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to raise awareness of world hunger, it focuses on the innovative and sustainable ways of harvesting, eating, and reducing food waste, using knowledge, science, and technology. “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.” is their mission statement. However, they share that same theory with many operations like farmers’ markets, shrimp and salmon farms, and the newest tactic of cultivating and caring for honey bees and their hives. Of course, you don’t have to go out and prove you want to help by doing either of those things, but there are ways you can make an impact.
How Can We Help?
To ensure access to healthy, affordable, and sustainable food, we need everybody—governments, businesses, farmers, researchers, community groups, and everyday people, like us. As a matter of fact, let’s talk about what “we” can do and might already be doing.
- Diversify Your Nutrition: Eat seasonally so that you assist in reducing environmental impact.
- Reduce Food Loss and Waste: Proper food storage, meal planning, and using leftovers mindfully are all ways to appreciate all the efforts that go into our food production.
- Support Local Farmers and Vendors: Shopping at local markets and farmers’ markets makes a huge impact, from farm to your table.
- Make Science-backed decisions: Doing your research and making informed choices about what you buy and eat are extremely important, as there’s no one way for all.
- Learn and then teach: Just as our ancestors shared information with us, use the new research and preserve recipes while integrating new practices.
- Be Mindful of natural resources: Saving water or reducing usage goes a long way, as well as reducing your use of plastics.
- Engage and collaborate with others: Whether in person or digitally, there are plenty of opportunities to partner with other like-minded people to make an impact that helps the world.
