GMIT host public event on how to reduce food waste

A free workshop and cooking demonstration on how to reduce food waste in the home will be hosted by Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in partnership with Galway local authorities next week, 28 November, 2 – 5pm, as part of National Waste Prevention Week.

GMIT's College of Tourism & Arts has teamed up with Galway City Council and Galway County Council to provide this free public event. Every year, households in Ireland throw away one third of the food they buy, amounting to approximately €1000 per year. But with better buying, canny cooking and savvy storage, most of this food waste can be avoided.

A national campaign called The Stop Food Waste Campaign, has found that the most common food types wasted are bread, apples, potatoes and salads. In fact, 50% of all salads bought in Ireland end up in the bin.

As part of this free 'Stop Food Waste Campaign' event, GMIT’s culinary arts lecturers Maria Conboy, Dr Claire Gilsenan and Eamonn Hoult will demonstrate how to make best use of ingredients by preparing tasty and innovative meals from chicken and fish, and by preparing some sweet treats, including muffins and ice cream.

In addition to the cooking demonstration, experts will be on hand to give advice on menu planning, food storage and composting.

Dr. Sharon Carroll, Galway City Council, says: “Small changes to our shopping habits and to our cooking habits can make a big difference to our weekly shopping bill. Even a simple thing like planning meals for the week ahead will ensure that you buy only what you need - and this will greatly reduce your food waste.”

Gerry Talbot, Head of the GMIT Dept of Culinary Arts and the Service Industries, says: “This initiative between GMIT, Galway City Council and Galway County Council will give people practical advice on how to reduce food waste through careful planning, purchasing, portion control, and creative use of leftovers. These are essential skills we teach our students, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to bring the message to a wider audience.”

The event takes place from 2pm to 5pm on Wednesday 28 November in the GMIT College of Tourism & Arts, (Demonstration lecture hall). For more information or to book a place on this free workshop and cookery demonstration, please contact Sharon Carroll on (091) 536564 or e-mail sharon.carroll@galwaycity.ie or Sinéad Ní Mhainnín on 091-476488 or email snimhain@galwaycoco.ie.