In case anyone doesn’t see food wasting as a big issue, this is for you. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States, wealthier countries waste almost as much food as the amount that sub-Saharan Africa has. On average, wealthy countries waste about 222 million metric tons of food per year, while sub-Saharan Africa produces only about 230 million metric tons of food per year.

Still, aren’t surprised? Believe it or not, FAO found out that produced fruits and vegetables, as well as tubers, are 45% likely to get wasted. They also discovered that the US has the biggest food waste, mainly because, consumers (people who own something) waste about 95-115kg of food per year, with Europe being close. There are many reasons why people waste food and some ways we can fix it.

Let’s start off with the fact that some populations aren’t aware of the fact that food is being wasted. That’s a simple reason why some individuals waste food in the first place because they don’t know that wasting their food is a bigger problem than they think it is.

If you know anyone who wastes food but isn’t aware of that, you could probably inform them about that they can make a difference by either giving their food to someone else and not throwing it away. For example, the Post Hall cafe at Adelphi makes sure that students don't waste food, by showing how much food is wasted and by measuring the daily food waste from people who ate there.

One way you can inform is by telling them that poor countries need to eat what’s given to them of any leftovers in order to survive. You could tell them about how the food that's being wasted from wealthy countries nearly matches the food that is available in sub-Saharan Africa. If you can think of more ideas to stop people from wasting food, that would be great.

Another reason is that some people forget about a food that they bought and wait for it to reach its expiration date. If that sounds like you, or anyone you know, you can do yourself a favor by writing down when the foods that were bought on your shopping list, which should be consumed. This may be somewhat time to consume, but it can make a big difference. Also, you can tell people who obsess with dates, that they will not get sick if they eat food a day or two past their expiration date. Another idea would be to make a dessert out of food that you won’t use so much and possibly give some of it away to your friends or co-workers.

Here are some facts about food from ChooseMyPlate.gov that will make you rather want to eat food than waste it.

Food is grouped into five categories, which are fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Fruits may have some sugar in them, but they boost the immune system, help our bodies function better, and reduce the risk of diseases. Vegetables help us digest other foods, lower our blood pressure, and reduce the risk of diseases. Grains have iron, B vitamins, and other minerals to help us stay active, and fiber to keep us satisfied. Proteins are building blocks for muscles, bones, enzymes, hormones, vitamins, skin, cartilage, blood, and even more. Dairy products help us build bone mass and prevent osteoporosis, which is especially important for children and adolescents. Even though they haven’t mentioned oils and fats, these are still somewhat important, because they improve testosterone levels, and the ones from fish, nuts, and vegetables may even help reduce bad cholesterol. Every food group matters, so make sure you eat food to get health benefits.