40%
30% of food is wasted across the global food supply chain in one year.
Around 40% is wasted in the United States annually.
SPOILER ALERT: WE’RE BACK!
In 2020, 2,000+ people join us in fasting from food waste. Back by popular demand, we’ve updated the challenge to address our 2021 context.
This Lent we’re fasting from food waste. Are you with us?
2021 participants received weekly updates with pointers for living a food-waste-free life as well as opportunities to pray and advocate on the issue of food waste. You can view all of the 2021 weekly challenges below!
WEEKLY CHALLENGES
ABOUT THE FAST
We’re saying farewell to food waste this Lent, and each week will offer a food waste mini challenge. Challenges are tailored toward:
- people who have control over their food choices
- people who have little or no control over their food choices (ex: college students, members of religious orders, etc.).
You’ll receive a weekly email with the mini challenge as well as tips, reflection questions, and prayer suggestions.
Mini challenges at a glance:
Week 1: Intro to a Food Waste Free Lent
- Individual Challenge:
Start Lent with a clean slate. Use all foods that are on the edge of spoiling in meals this week, and clean out any foods that have already spoiled. - Community Challenge:
Where does your food waste go? Ask someone from food services what happens to food scraps from food preparation and where leftovers go.
Week 2: Organization/Storage
- Individual Challenge:
Organize your fridge and store your food in a way that will prevent it from spoiling. - Community Challenge:
Organize one new way to share food throughout this week at your school, parish, or organization.
Week 3: Meal Planning
- Individual Challenge:
Before you shop this week, survey your kitchen to see what you already have and use Meal Prep Mate to help you plan your meals. - Community Challenge
When selecting food at your institution, be mindful of not taking more than you can finish, and practice mindful eating at least once a day.
Week 4: Gratitude and Mindfulness
- Shared Challenge:
Practice mindfulness and gratitude as you prepare and eat meals this week.
Week 5: Food for Thought
Shared Challenge:
- Part 1: Clean out your fridge now that we’re halfway through Lent. If you already cleaned your fridge out, take stock of how your system is working and what food has been wasted, if any, along the way. Where is there room for new creativity and/or awareness?
- Part 2: Food waste goes far beyond your kitchen. Take some time to learn more about the supply side of food waste.
Week 6: Compost
- Shared Challenge:
If you don’t already compost, start a compost at your house, or find a local organization that collects compost. If you already compost, try to find at least one new item to add to your compost bin.
Week 7: Grow Food
- Shared Challenge:
Begin growing at least one piece of food inside your home this week, or plan your outdoor garden.
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