How often do we throw away food? What impact does this have on the environment and why is it a matter of respect for our fellow human beings? Four 3rd grade High School students discuss and provide answers about food waste and its reduction, guided by faith and daily practice. As part of the Religious Studies course and the social actions as an integral part of its identity and culture, they present the Podcast "Clean Plate: A Bit of Discussion on Food Waste Guided by Faith and Action".

"Clean Plate: A Bit of Discussion on Food Waste Guided by Faith and Action"

(Introductory Music)

- How often do we throw away food? What impact does this have on the environment and why is it a matter of respect for our fellow human beings? We are four third-grade students of high school and this is our podcast "Clean Plate: A Bit of Discussion on Food Waste Guided by Faith and Action". All together we will discuss overconsumption, food waste and ways to deal with them.

Listen to our podcast on European School Radio!

(Introductory Music)

- Welcome to "Clean Plate"!

- Pleased to have found you!

- Really, have you ever imagined, how much money we throw away? I think that nowadays, all people do this every day, with food! Don't you agree with me?

- Of course, it goes without saying, and in my opinion, this happens either because with all the advertising that has been done about junk food, we constantly take it out, or because we leave food out for many days, or we make more than we should.

- And all of this results in food being left uneaten and eventually being thrown away, creating the so-called overconsumption. I think that especially during periods of fasting, we think more about the value of food, don't you agree?

- Yes, because fasting holds a central place in the life of the church and prepares us for the great holidays, such as Christmas and Easter.

- We say all of this, because we want to convey a message to the listeners.

- Let's try, both the listeners and us, to waste as little food as possible.

- Yes, because we should also think that there are people who have financial problems and need a plate of food. We will also give you some practical advice on this issue and analyze it further.

(Transition Music)

- Really, how often do you throw away food at home?

- I don't throw away food at all. Whenever there is leftover food, I save it and eat it another time. Of course, I doubt that people do this. Most people waste their food and throw it away without paying much attention.

- Hmm! Why do we do this, kids? What's wrong? Did you know that wasting food harms the environment? When food is thrown away, it usually ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Also, producing food requires significant resources, such as water, energy, land and labor. So when food is not consumed, these resources are consumed unnecessarily.

- Yes, and of course wasting food is also a matter of respect for our fellow human beings. Huge amounts of food are thrown away while many areas of the world suffer from hunger and food insecurity. According to the UN, approximately 8-10% of the world's population faces the risk of hunger. At the same time huge amounts of food are consumed that could meet the needs of these people. If food waste were reduced, a lot of food could be directed to the most vulnerable groups and contribute to addressing world hunger.

- You're doing a good job clarifying that! Do you remember the miracle of the loaves and fishes? What did Christ teach us about food? Christ had to feed the hungry crowds that followed him in the desert. He asks his disciples to share with the crowd the few provisions they had with them, five loaves and two fish: "give them to eat," he says. And as soon as the disciples obey Christ's command, the miracle happens. The same can happen in our own lives, when our obedience to divine commandments precedes.

(Transition Music)

- Let me ask.. What does it mean that food is a gift from God?

- It means that everything is His creation and He offers it to us with love to use. When God created Adam and Eve, He said: "I have given you every plant yielding seed, which is on the surface of the whole earth, to serve you as food".

- Hmm! Saint John Chrysostom, known for his social justice, has written much about the value of food and the obligation of all to help those who have none. In many of his sermons he emphasizes the importance of charity, saying that one should share one's surplus with the poor since the real value of food is not only in our enjoyment of it.

- I understand! That is why Saint John points out that when someone overlooks the poor's need for food, it is like despising Christ himself. Therefore, food has a divine value that is linked to helping one's fellow man and kindness to the poor is one of the most important acts of Christian virtue.

- Time for a little prayer! Did you know that the phrase "Lord, bless the food" has a deep spiritual meaning? When we ask for God's blessing on our food, we remind ourselves that food is beyond our physical need and for our spiritual well-being.

- Very true! It is also an act of gratitude to God for His care, since He generously gives us the necessities. Thus, we recognize that food is a gift from God and not something we earn on our own.

- And not only that! Furthermore, we ask God to help us use it with moderation and wisdom, without waste.

(Transition Music) 

- Well, time for action! It may be difficult to solve the global food crisis, but in simple ways we can limit food waste to a level. What can we do?

- The easiest but somewhat boring way is to eat the same food the next day or put it in the freezer. Ideally, we should shop and cook as much as we need, so that there are not large amounts of food left over. But because there will often be something left over, we make sure that it does not go to waste.

- You know, another way is to freeze it, dividing it into portions to defrost as much as we want at another time. Using the freezer, is a solution that helps in the preservation and consumption of leftover food. Frozen food requires a little attention in the way it is defrosted, but in terms of taste and quality, it has no change.

- Alternatively, for smaller quantities, we use the leftover food in a new recipe. We can even become a master chef with leftovers! Another way is to cook without a recipe. "Freestyle" cooking does not follow recipe books! It may not be Instagram friendly, but it is satisfying and "saves" some food from the trash.

- Hmm! Another notable technique to achieve a significant reduction in food waste is to obtain a clearer picture of what food we throw away. And this can be done through recording. In other words, at the end of each day we can note what food we threw away. Before we visit the greengrocer, the butcher, the supermarket, let's take a look at our cupboards and fridge and note the food we already have. Then, let's think of a dish or two that we can make with them. If we miss something, we add it to our shopping list, like chefs!

- It's true! Finally, utilizing leftovers is a way that many people use nowadays. Food leftovers can very well become pulp or compost. That way, there will be no food that has not been recycled or eaten.

- These were some of the solutions that could be used to reduce food waste.

(Transition Music)

- So, what do we take away from our discussion today?

- Remember what we said about waste, our faith and practical solutions.

- Exactly! You can change these things yourself. Think about it and discuss it.

- Girls, what you are telling us is very nice! Thank you very much for being here.

- We thank you!

- Did you listen to the podcast "Clean Plate: A Bit of Discussion on Food Waste Guided by Faith and Action" with four third grade students of the Gymnasium, who discussed food waste and how to deal with it.

- Listen to our podcast on European School Radio!

(Exit Music / Sound of music "closing" softly)

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