Food Waste & Sustainability

Today’s Goal

Students will learn how food waste happens, why it matters, and how to reduce, reuse, and repurpose food materials to support sustainable food systems.

• ●Food waste is a major global issue
• ●Waste happens in production, cooking, and consumption
• ●Eggs and food scraps can still have value
• ●Composting turns waste into soil nutrients
• ●Sustainable systems reduce cost and environmental harm
• ●Good food systems minimize waste at every stage

“Waste is not just trash — it is missed opportunity.” “Good farmers and chefs don’t waste — they redesign systems.” “Everything in food has a second life if you know where to place it.”

“WASTE OR VALUE MOVEMENT GAME”

Instructions

The instructor calls out items:

• ●Eggshell — students crouch (soil cycle)
• ●Leftover bread — pretend compost toss
• ●Vegetable scraps — soil planting motion
• ●Perfect food — eating motion Students respond physically.

What It Teaches

• ●Waste recognition
• ●Resource awareness
• ●Circular thinking

“FOOD WASTE CYCLE MODEL”

Materials

• ●Eggshells (or visuals)
• ●Food scraps (or paper models)
• ●Compost bin (real or demo box)
• ●Soil example

Demonstration Steps

1. Food is prepared
2. Some waste is created
3. Waste goes into compost
4. Compost becomes soil
5. Soil grows new food

Teacher Line

“Food systems are circles — not straight lines.”

“WASTE TO WEALTH CHALLENGE”

Game Purpose

Teams redesign food waste into useful resources.

How It Works

Scenario cards include:

• ●Too many eggs cracked
• ●Leftover food from cooking
• ●Spoiled vegetables
• ●Excess kitchen scraps
• ●Overproduction at market

Team Task

1. Identify the waste problem
2. Decide if it can be reduced, reused, or recycled
3. Create a solution system

Solution Examples

• ●Compost system
• ●Animal feed reuse
• ●Food donation plan
• ●Repurposed recipes
• ●Waste reduction cooking plan

How to Win — Scoring

• ●Problem understanding (5 pts)
• ●Creativity of solution (5 pts)
• ●Sustainability thinking (5 pts)
• ●Team explanation (5 pts) Highest “Sustainability Score” wins.

• ●Waste scenario cards
• ●Paper and markers
• ●Compost visuals or bin
• ●Example food scraps (optional props)

Low-cost option:

A fully paper-based simulation works fine.

“What is one way you can reduce waste in your home or kitchen?”

Emphasize

• ●Waste is a design flaw, not just trash
• ●Sustainability is intentional
• ●Every action in food has a ripple effect Teach the phrase: “In good systems, nothing is wasted.”

Common Beginner Mistakes

• ●Thinking waste has no value
• ●Ignoring small scraps
• ●Not connecting waste to systems
• ●Overlooking compost solutions

Home Mission

Track food waste at home for 1 day: what was wasted and how it could be reused. Bonus: Create a small compost or reuse idea.

Ages 5–8

• ●Sorting game: waste vs reuse
• ●Simple compost explanation

Ages 9–12

• ●Full waste-to-value mapping
• ●Group solution building

Ages 13–18

• ●Environmental impact of food waste
• ●Urban compost systems
• ●Food justice implications
• ●Mini Challenge: design a “zero-waste kitchen plan”