1 . Food is part of who we are. We all need it, survive because of it and derive happiness from it. So if food matters so much, why do we let so much of it go rotten in our fridges, or get thrown out in our stores? Sadly, we love food, but we don’t take care of it.     1     Here are ways to help us love our food better and grow respect for the world behind what we eat.

• Reduce your food waste.

Buy only the food you need, store food wisely, donate excess and turn leftover food into the next day’s meals. When we waste food, all the resources used for growing, processing, transporting and marketing that food are wasted too.     2    

• Support your local food producers.

Chefs get awards, stars and recognition for their creations. But what about our farmers?     3     Shop at your local markets and get to know your farmers. Giving them your business is giving them your recognition and respect.

• Adopt a healthier, more sustainable diet.

    4     We get energy and maintain health from good food. We normally don’t care the power that food and nutrition have over our bodies. Too much of it, or too much of only one kind of it, can lead to obesity, deficiencies or diet-related diseases.

•     5    

By treating each meal with pride, we respect the farmers who produced it, and the resources that went into it. Respect can be passed on. Talk to the people around and to the next generation about making informed, healthy and sustainable food choices.

Respecting food means appreciating the back-story of food. When we know the full picture, it is easier to see what our food really stands for and how precious it really is.