Saving food also forms an international trend
While enjoying our daily meals, we should always be reminded of the efforts by those behind the foods and the grace by Mother nature.
Saving food has long been a tradition in Chinese history, and it is also valued by folks and families in China’s neighboring countries. Here are some views on food saving and being thrifty from the international audience.
Kunming foodie Ms. Chen: no greediness when dining out
My family has outings every week. When dining out, I used to order a lot of dishes, causing unnecessary waste. But now I realized it is necessary to be sure we can eat up everything we ordered.
The other day, I had dinner with my friends, and we ordered twice to avoid food waste. We added another two dished during the meal and the idea worked out fine. Nothing was seen on the dishes when we left the canteen.
Yunnan reporter Mr. Zhang: measuring tools helps in food saving
An increasing number of Chinese families begin to value thrift and healthy diet.
Since 2017, some new tools have been in our kitchen, such as food scales and measuring cups. As a result, we have, for each meal, fixed amounts of rice, meat and ingredients as well as oil and salt.
It seems to be troublesome, but the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents defined the daily nutrition one needs. Eating too much or little can harm our health alike. Food saving during cooking works better than being on a diet.
Now no leftovers are seen in our refrigerator. Also, we care for food diversity, in a bid to form a healthy lifestyle.
Thai editor Ms. Feng: I just order one dish, one rice
I am an office worker born in 1990s. Busy with my work, I don't have much time to cook. Therefore, takeaways are my favorite. My family once ordered dishes enough for two or three meals, which turned out to be unhealthy or wasteful.
Gradually, we just order one dish and one rice, so that we can basically finish easting everything. Still, we have occasional leftovers for lunch the next day. In this way, I avoid wasting food and the living cost is cut.
Thai girl Fern: saying no to food waste
I like making dessert. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, I've cooked most meals for the family. Generally, I cook 2-3 dishes for each meal according to the number of diners. I don’t cook too much, so that we can finish the food at meals.
Due to the pandemic, Thailand is short of vegetables. To ensure my family sound meals, I’ve planted vegetables at the garden in my hometown Langkai, picking the exact amount for each meal.
For young singles in Thailand, they seldom cook for themselves. Instead, they usually eat in road-side restaurants where individual diners can enjoy a good meal without causing food waste.
Lao girl Akhom: steamed rice is tasty, economical
I like steaming glutinous rice in the Lao style. The cooking involves rice-washing, water-pouring, setting up a pot, making a fire, steaming, lid covering, and firing at low heat. When the rice is ready, I’ll put it in a bamboo basket, using it as a staple food for the family.
In steaming rice, I measure the amounts of rice and water according to the diner number, finding out the right amount. A meal with accuracy in amount will make the all meals fresh and avoid the waste of food.
Cambodian student Rathana: food-saving is significant
I take a lunch box to school every day, which suits me fine both in weight and taste. To me, food-saving is really something significant. My family being rice growers, I know fully the effort of farmers behind the food, forming a good habit of thrift.
We’re bettering off these years, but the family tradition of saving food remains unchanged. I prepare meals in a thrift way to avoid waste, be it dinner at home or dining out. I pack the leftovers and a take them home, and so do my relatives or friends.
Recent reports say at least 25 countries in the world are at risk of severe famine this year. So we should be graceful that we have enough to eat every day, while seeing the urgency in saving food, which is related and obliged to us all.
Myanmar reporter Ba Oo: food is like medicine
In the eyes of Myanmar folks, eating matters and food is equivalent to medicine. Anyone alive have to eat something sound and nutritious at the right timing, so that s/he can be strong and live longer.
A saying in Myanmar goes that “trouble will come if you don't walk steady or eat well.” So we care for the right amount of food, advocating frugality in eating. When dining out, we order meals according to the appetite.
In the cause of food saving, Myanmar housewives play a big role. If possible, they would keep the occasional leftovers to the next meal. In Mandalay, some leftovers are recycled and used as pig food.
In 2020, the Covid-19 and other natural disasters will seriously damage many countries and industries, with some localities facing food shortages. So it’s high time that we should save food.
By Gateway reporters