Each Christmas, there are those among us who know it is Jingle Bell time and yet look to others to make their festivities a merry one. Giving during the festive season is more than just an act of kindness. It also makes great business sense. Let’s come together this Christmas season, to make the world a better place for all of us - one plate at a time!
While we waste 4 million tonnes per annum of food which ends up in landfills, we also produce enough food to feed approximately 60 million people. Yet 2 million people still rely on food relief every year and food relief agencies are not able to meet demand. Nearly 90% of agencies report not having enough food to meet total demand. That’s a wake-up call to both manage food waste and reach out to relief agencies to help them meet demands. Here are three things that you can address in your kitchen this Christmas season.
Comb through your menu to ensure that you are using every possible off cut in dishes that could use it. You could even be a bit inventive and create your own dish with off cuts. The easiest way is to use off cuts for stock. Also, monitor your kitchen to ensure that waste is kept to a minimum - let your staff know that waste is a big no-no. You can also bring in professional ingredients as they can be stored longer and produce much less waste than raw ingredients.
Over-portioned meals usually go to waste. Portion control is not only good to reduce waste, it will also increase your Cafes’ profit margins. Optimal portions are what you should aim for. A quick tip is to have clear-cut recipe cards within easy reach of all your kitchen staff and reminders, whenever deemed necessary, to look them up. Let your staff know that controlled or optimum portions not only help with waste control, but also help manage the pantry and therefore costs better.
When there are people going hungry, good, edible food should not go to waste. Add some food karma this Christmas. Encourage your staff to rescue quality food from going to waste by calling the services of a not-for-profit who will reach it, free of charge, to vulnerable Kiwis.
