When I first added #40. Reduce my food waste and shop local to my 100 List; I never could have imagined doing it this way. With the end of my MA in Food Studies rapidly approaching, my capstone project is a handbook titled “The Little Book of Food Waste.”

The inspiration for the handbook stems from my graduate school experience at NYU. In nearly every Food Studies course, fellow graduate students and faculty recognized that much of the necessary adjustments needed to fight climate change must be done at the corporate level. Individuals quite often feel powerless. I learned in one class that the most effective way for consumers to help was by lessening their household food waste. I evaluated my own habits and found them disappointing. Thus, my project was born.

Take the food waste survey

My handbook will argue that food waste is tied to shopping, eating, and organizational habits. A big part of the book is anthropological research, a part that will be done by having people complete a survey. The survey is 30 questions long, and results in what type of “eater” you are. Take the survey to find out where you land, and stay tuned for more progress on the book!

Please note that the research information from the food waste survey is meant for research and entertainment purposes, and any change to a diet should be reviewed with a doctor, licensed dietician, or nutritionist.