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We did it! We held our first ever ‘Food Rescue’ event in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo at Eithna’s by the Sea restaurant. It was a great event with inspiring talks on food waste by Mindy O’Brien and cooking demonstrations and tastings by the chef extraordinaire, Eithna O’Sullivan.We received food donations from Mullaney’s Supervalu in Grange, Co. Sligo comprised of bacon, parsnips, carrots, pears, broccoli, tomatoes, Benecol yogurt drink and some Kipling apple pies.

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We also were blessed with some windfall apples from the community garden thanks to Shailagh. What delicious concoctions did Eithna create?

eithna smoothies

We ate like kings and queens. For starters we had a cleansing drink of a smoothie made with the apples, wild elderberries and Benecol with some seaweed added for our health.

pumpkin

What to do with those pumpkins over Halloween? Eithna demonstrated that after you make your soup out of the flesh, you can roast the skin and the seeds for tasty snacks. They were gobbled up by our hungry participants.The slightly bendy parsnips and carrots and soft pears went into a lovely cake and the rest of the vegetables along with the bacon went into a gorgeous risotto. All in all, we all went away contented with our full bellies.

risotto

While we all enjoyed the meal, the message doesn’t end here… this is only the catalyst for further community action. We urged all our food rescuites to take the message of food waste into their local shops, restaurants, homes and schools.Here are some actions you can take:

  • The next time you shop, ask your greengrocer to sell ‘ugly food’ or ask to buy slightly bruised fruit and veg at a lower price to make jams, chutneys, soups and smoothies.
  • Request a doggie bag from the restaurant to take home the food you didn’t eat…this would make a lovely lunch for the next day.
  • Ask for half portions or substitutions the next time you eat. If you want a salad instead of chips or no bread, ask for it to reduce plate waste.
  • Get your school to hold ‘food rescue’ events or food waste reduction challenges to involved children in the fight against food waste.

Change begins at home and in your communities. Why not try a few of the above ideas to get the discussion about food waste started in your neighbourhood?Want to hold a ‘Food Rescue’ event in your community? Contact us!

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