If you want to know more about what the Every Bite programme could mean for your household, read the following thoughts and feedback from Wanaka resident Ralphie (Rebecca) Kirby-Crowe on her Every Bite journey.
The system has been easy to use and to integrate into everyday family life. We established the ‘Eat Me First’ shelf in our fridge so I could better track sad veges and little bits and pieces that might otherwise get forgotten. The combination of the ‘Eat Me First’ shelf and a more conscious intention to reduce food waste has made a difference in the way I cook, eg. As the freezer stock bag gets full, I plan a risotto meal so I can cook up the stock and use it, instead of thinking ‘what do we feel like tonight?’.
I felt a bit overwhelmed when I left the intro night because I wanted to do it ‘right’ and had subconsciously set an intention to have no food waste so I would ‘do well’. I got a big eye roll from my husband when I set out the ice-cream container and ‘Eat Me First’ shelf (for some reason he hates ice-cream containers…?), but after a couple of days we were on track. As we got going I realised I was being unsustainably dogmatic, and I decided to aim for honest results that I could reflect on rather than getting a ‘great’ result.
I think my greatest learning on the journey was this moment – internalising that mantra that real change won’t come from everyone being perfect, but from everyone genuinely doing a bit better… We have made sustainable change and are set up to continue.
I read a Paulo Coelho quote earlier in the year that I really liked, and it speaks to this realisation I had:
“Change. But start slowly, because direction is more important than speed.”
I started this journey with a hiss and a roar – feeling scandalised about food waste, totally motivated and really enthused about the new tips and tricks I had learned. That energy wasn’t sustainable, and, once I let that wash past me, I settled into smaller but genuinely transformational and sustainable change in my thinking and my actions. No doubt this will be a building block for greater opportunities for change in the future, but going big was the wrong way to start.
A ripple effect of thinking about food waste is thinking about subsequent resource use. I started getting caught between achieving some food waste changes and being mindful of using fewer resources generally. In the end, I prioritised the food waste journey and did things like heat the oven only to make breadcrumbs, but creating that space has made real change possible in my food habits. I can now normalise those habits into daily life and look to be more efficient in how I achieve the new normal. Tackling one thing at a time seems a good way to go.
The comms have been great, as was the opening session. It actually felt pretty luxurious with food and drinks! It made it feel like we were appreciated from the get go and it was a real warm welcome.
I would like to thank Every Bite for the initiative and resources, and Wastebsuters for bringing it to life. Evelyn seems a real gem and Wānaka is lucky to have her – she’s relatable and warm and a wealth of information, and her practical contribution to that opening night was quite inspiring.
Thanks again!
Ralphie (Rebecca) Kirby-Crowe
Find out all of the details on the latest Every Bite Programme here.
