Laure Manaudou’s tips for introducing children to the fight against food waste

Laure Manaudou gave us her tips for reusing leftovers at home. Today, she shares her recipe so that her children can get started. Among the major steps that help limit food waste, you have to plan ahead. For example, by planning your menus in advance and checking the expiration dates when buying products. Then take action: by reusing leftovers. Finally, by getting started. The point of passing on good habits? Ensuring future generations have better management of their waste and life on the planet.

“As adults, we have a responsibility to educate them and show them the importance of not wasting.”

© Gouhier Nicolas/ABACA

Children are the first to waste

In 39%* of households in France, children are the ones who waste the most. Between small appetites and difficulty in satisfying them, children tend to waste more than adults. How many times have we left a plate half full when leaving the table when we were little? “The lack of knowledge of the foods on the plate, often linked to the introduction of new tastes or unfamiliar textures, can disinterest them or even put them off! As adults, we have the responsibility to educate them and show them the importance of not wasting.” To do this, here is a piece of advice: “In the kitchen, get them involved!”

Introducing children to adopt the right actions

Getting children involved in recycling leftovers has “become a real family challenge”. With her 14-year-old daughter and her 7- and 3-year-old boys, Laure Manaudou has been teaching them the right habits from a very young age. “They help me plan meals for the week. This helps avoid buying too much (which often happens due to fear of running out) when shopping. Also, to avoid preparing too much, I always ask them if they are more or less hungry, the aim being to not fill their plates too much and avoid waste.” More than ever, in this way, children feel involved in food at home and, above all, we buy reasonable quantities that are adapted to the needs of the household.

“Raise awareness and have fun”

Once the meal is over, if there are leftovers or food from the kitchen has been sitting in the cupboards or fridge for too long, cook with the children. Children love to cook. These times spent with their parents are a time when they feel, “like adults”, responsible. For example, prepare French toast with leftover stale bread, a compote if your fruit is too ripe or a crumble with the cheese crust left on the side at lunch. In this way, “you make the fight against food waste a game for children, by making it fun, more meaningful and engaging for them”. Above all, from a very young age, reusing leftovers will become a reflex. “They are not always convinced at first, but the result ends up pleasing them in the majority of cases!”

*Source ADEME

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