Abstract
According to the UN, one-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted. To combat this, many organizations advise households to reduce food waste through meal planning and composting. However, these measures have not inspired widespread change. Our communities are not taking enough action, whether due to the fear and guilt associated with climate change, lack of knowledge about food waste, or mere indifference to it. As I’ve progressed through my dual degree at NYU in Food Studies and Library Science, I’ve come to believe that food waste can be reduced by understanding and tapping into our habits. My capstone, a handbook titled The Little Book of Food Waste, uses a framework that categorizes individuals as Emotional, Creative, Adventurous, Pragmatic, or Rigid Eaters based on shopping, organization, cooking, and eating patterns, as well as their knowledge of expiration dates and composting. I have also been conducting research via a Typeform survey titled “What Type of Eater Are You?” Like “The Five Love Languages” and Myers Briggs, this quiz could inspire individuals to surpass the food waste challenges that prevent action. I believe the resulting handbook will be a behavioral blueprint that empowers individuals to be more strategic about their food. I present actionable takeaways from the handbook. I also share QR codes that direct to the quiz and a link to the website.
Presenters
Melissa Randall HoughtonStudent, MA in Food Studies and MSLIS in Library and Information Science, New York University, New York, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Fed Up: Learning From the Past, Imagining New Futures
KEYWORDS
Food Waste, Sustainability, New Approaches to Food Waste, Food Loss
