America is wasting food more than any other country in the world next to Australia. The 2017 Food Sustainability Index measures the effective use of food by each country–from production, transport, and consumption.
The survey found that the United States only trails Australia in the amount of food wasted. The average American wastes 278 kilograms per year, which is still far short compared to Australia’s 361 kilograms per year.
In recent years, however, the meal delivery service market has exploded. The industry’s boon aligns with the shift toward healthier living. You get healthy food delivered at your doorstep, which is a very convenient business model for people on the go.
In 2017, the meal delivery service industry was only worth $2.5 billion. But the resurgence will propel the industry to new heights as it is expected to reach $8.9 billion by 2025.
What Causes Food Waste
Among the reasons for food loss are:
- Spoilage
- Lack of drying, freezing, and milling facilities
- Improper transport
- Exposure to the elements
- Natural or human-made calamities
According to the US Department of Agriculture, the US wastes about 30-40% of its food supply. On the retail and consumer level, the percentage of food loss is estimated to be around 31%.
What does this mean?
It means that food which could have fed families end up in the landfill.
It means the energy, land, water, and labor needed to produce food would be wasted, as well.
The non-profit organization, WorldHunger.org, reported that 15.6 million families in the US were classified as “food insecure” in 2016. When you say food insecure, it means that the family does not have enough resources to feed all household members.
Meanwhile, more than six million families are in the “very low food security” classification. It means the standard meal patterns –breakfast, lunch, and dinner– are getting severely disrupted due to scant resources.
On the first point, people must be more conscious about the food they eat. You may see photos of acutely malnourished children in war-torn countries or some nations in Africa. Admittedly, it can be hard to relate to them because they are so far away.
But you might not know that there are millions of American families here who are going hungry.
Reducing Food Waste
The total food waste in the US is more than the combined volume of Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, and the UK.
The consumers play a huge role in reducing the amount of food the country wastes per year. A significant factor is to change behavior. For instance, one common cause of food waste is ordering more than what one can consume. Another is cooking more food than they would need to eat. As a result, several amounts of food end up in the bin.
A straightforward solution is to subscribe to a meal delivery service. The service providers have a team of nutritionists and dieticians who will prepare food that is tailor-fit to your needs. You can have healthy food delivered to wherever you are.
The portions are also enough to give you the right nutritional value that will help get you through the day. What this means is you reduce the amount of food you throw away. You need to subscribe to a meal delivery service if you are trying to live a healthier lifestyle or have no time to cook food.
