KT For Good: All-you-can-waste? Go for a la carte, instead

Only 53 per cent of Iftar meals actually get eaten.

Buffet or a la carte? Packed with an abundant display of food in every shape and colour, large buffets are beautiful. But do you realise that almost half of that food goes to waste?
A 2017 survey of 45 hotels by Masdar Institute scientists Dr Sanaa Priani and Dr Hassan Arafat found that only 53 per cent of Iftar meals actually get eaten.
With 1.3 billion tonnes of food being wasted annually, Emirates Nature - WWF has said food production has a colossal impact on the environment worldwide.
"The approach by which communities produce and consume food is one of the biggest threats to the planet," said Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, director-general of Emirates Nature - WWF.
Khaleej Times spoke to a cross-section of food-loving residents in the UAE and most agree to the fact that "all-you-can-eat buffets are a waste of food". 
Indian national Priyanka Sengupta said: "I prefer buffets as you can choose what you really like and can actually consume. However, buffets are a big waste of food for sure, and it makes no economic sense. But I know for a fact that a few restaurants actually run out of food when you go in late, which means they are controlling the amount of food they serve." 
For Ajman resident Nihad Ahmed, buffets are good as long as one eats everything on his or her plate. 
"I have seen people pile food on their plates and leave it unfinished. That is terrible because those perfectly good leftovers will serve no other purpose except go into the bin." Ahmed said. 
Medha Thanooj, on the other hand, would rather go a la carte all the way. 
"I think a la carte is the way to go. If you stop offering surplus, people will realise the importance of food conservation. Most hotels and restaurants take a head count. If smaller quantities are served, there will be no food wastage at all."
Environmental impact
Thankfully, organisations such as Emirates Nature - WWF are urging the UAE community to reduce the wastage of food during the holy month of Ramadan. 
Launched by the World Wildlife Fund, the 'Save 1/3' anti-food waste campaign encourages everyone to change their current habits and contribute to the goal of saving food in the UAE. 
With changes as small as creating a shopping list to avoid impulsive buying and freezing leftover food, the level of food waste can decrease dramatically.
Abdullatif said: "Emirates Nature-WWF encourages all residents and citizens of the UAE to reflect on their eating habits and learn how to shop smarter, cook smarter, and eat smarter. Through our Save 1/3 campaign, we hope to support the UAE in addressing the global issue of one-third of the food produced going to waste."
The production of food uses the largest portion of all land and freshwater on Earth, and it is the biggest cause of deforestation and toxic greenhouse gas emissions, which are among the strongest triggers of climate change. 
In addition, food consumption is also threatening wildlife on land and causing fish stocks to collapse.
Recently, the Emirates Nature - WWF launched a blog, titled 'Yalla Green', to offer an informative guide for everyone. It features tips on how to shop, cook and consume food more efficiently. The blog also sheds light on the concept of 'funny-looking food', coined to describe the way most people tend to avoid food items that are oddly shaped or discoloured, even though they are just as nutritious as other food. This results in tonnes of perfectly good produce being discarded at farms.
Emirates Nature - WWF, in partnership with Emirates Bio Farm, has challenged Emirati food influencer Chef Khaled to transform funny-looking vegetables provided by the farm into two Iftar recipes. This is being done in an effort to encourage the community to buy the funny-looking food they come across at supermarkets and farmer's markets, which can have a significant, positive impact on the planet.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• KT For Good