The problem of food waste is widespread and is only getting worse. Despite the shockingly high rates of food waste in every nation, the UN estimates that around one in ten people worldwide experience hunger and undernourishment.
If you look closely, Bangladeshis are equally to blame, with more and more food wasted, especially at restaurants. Every time you visit these eateries, you'll see that the majority of the patrons are young, often between the ages of 16 and 25. They are primarily students.
Unfortunately, there is no precise information available about the amount of food that Bangladesh's Gen Z generation wastes in restaurants. One common fact for wasting foods is that “they did not like the food after being served.” Second reason can be that “it has been over cooked,” and third can be the portion size.
In addition to homes and restaurants, university cafeterias are another location where food waste can be discovered. I hardly ever notice students enjoying the campus cafés they have access to. Even without considering the price of the food, 90% of them are dissatisfied with the service and quality.
In general, younger folks have poor evaluations of food quality and value, as well as a lack of control over eating choices. Due to a lack of control, they may be served food that is not to their liking or that has not been prepared to their satisfaction.
As we have seen on social media platforms, Gen Z suffers from anxiety and depression most of the time, which kills their appetite and causes them to stop eating. They also do not bring their leftovers home with them; there is excitement in a discovery phase, but the food is often wasted because they are unsure about what and how they like to eat.
Another major concern is inappropriate meal portion size, which contributes significantly to food waste. Because most restaurants' target clientele are young, they aim to provide more food for less money, which results in inappropriate portion sizes.
Now let's talk about those Gen Z who are living alone or in hostels or in bachelor flats. They also waste food. This issue is made worse by poor meal preparation, a lack of understanding of how to properly store and consume leftovers, and a lack of refrigerator and freezer space.
Food being thrown away because it has expired or gone out of date is related to this. This implies that they frequently buy perishable meals without considering how they would consume everything before it spoils. This issue is made worse by unpredictable timetables and last-minute alterations to the original plan. Additionally, they might not know how to make the most of the food they purchase by, for instance, using the same items in many recipes.
How can we overcome this food waste problem?
Well, we all know where Gen Z is more active.
Social media networks may play a significant role in minimizing food waste. Restaurants that use innovative marketing methods and make social media postings or videos on food waste might have a huge influence on this generation. Last but not least, informing our peers about the food waste situation might have the same influence.
During a time when prices of essentials are at an all-time high, minimizing food waste is the least we can do.
Nayem Shaan is a Photojournalist/ Documentary Photographer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.