Hello! My name is Ellie Hunter and I am currently a dietetic intern with Sodexo’s distance program and based in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Having completed my food service management, community and leadership rotations, I am currently in my clinical rotation at Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut. While my work at Bridgeport Hospital is clinical-based, I was also able to participate in the event planning and production of the hospital’s celebration of National Nutrition Month. In celebrating National Nutrition Month, we adopted the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ theme of “Go Further with Food” to address the pressing issue of food waste. While you might think that the word pressing is an exaggerated descriptor of the issue, I would counter with the fascinating fact that over 1/3 of all food produced in the world is lost or wasted between farm and fork. The large scale of the issue may make it feel like an insurmountable challenge for us to address as individuals; however, small choices made by each of us can in fact have a powerful impact and directly contribute to a reduction in overall food waste. Some of my favorite tips to reduce food waste include:
- Plan meals based on foods you already have
- Buy only the amount of food that can be eaten or frozen within a few days
- Place foods that spoil quickly within sight
- Order smaller sizes of foods and drinks when eating away from home and always ask for a to-go container if you have leftover food
- Donate extra foods that are still safe to eat to a local food pantry
One of my favorite recipes to reduce food waste is a super simple banana ice cream that can be made from overly ripened bananas. Directions are below:
Simple Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients:
Simple Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe bananas, sliced & frozen
- shredded coconut or chocolate chips (optional)
- Add bananas to food processor
- Blend on medium speed; occasionally scrape down sides
- Continue to blend until smooth, approximately 3-5 minutes
- Top with shredded coconut, chocolate chips or your favorite toppings!
