As children, most of us heard our mothers tell us to clean our plates because children around the world aren’t as fortunate to have a full plate of dinner. And, of course, mothers around the world are right.

Now as moms ourselves how much food do you waste per week? Can you save more food?

About one-third of all food produced, worth around US$1 trillion, gets lost or wasted in food production and consumption systems, according to data released by FAO in a press release. The newly-launched Think. Eat. Save campaign created by the UNEP and FAO and other key partners is educating the food service industry and consumers the importance of not wasting food.

As a consumer you would be surprised by how much food you can save by doing small things like understanding expiration dates to requesting smaller portions at restaurants. There is a full list of tips for consumers as well as for the food industry.

“In a world of seven billion people, set to grow to nine billion by 2050, wasting food makes no sense – economically, environmentally and ethically,” said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

“Aside from the cost implications, all the land, water, fertilizers and labour needed to grow that food is wasted – not to mention the generation of greenhouse gas emissions produced by food decomposing on landfill and the transport of food that is ultimately thrown away,” he added. “To bring about the vision of a truly sustainable world, we need a transformation in the way we produce and consume our natural resources.”

The learn more about wasting less food visit www.thinkeatsave.org.