Oxfam America GROW Method Guide

fight Five easy world ways To hunger starting fight at your world kitchen hunger. table

out of seven billion people in the world today, nearly one billion of us go to bed hungry each night. we know that’s not right. but we don’t always know how to help.

introducing

FIVE SIMPLE ways to make ONE BIG DIFFERENCE.

the grow method Save Food

seasonal

Less

Food is truly global.

Growing it, selling it, preparing it, eating it.

We’re all interconnected.

So the choices we make every day— At the grocery store, in the kitchen— Are more powerful than we might think. to get started, Turn the page.

Support

Cook smart

SAVE FOOD

With nearly a billion people going hungry, and demand for food set to soar, it’s time to take a closer look at the amount of food we throw away.

Reducing our waste helps conserve resources so that everyone has enough to eat today and tomorrow.

WHY? About 1/3

OF all food produced for people’s plates goes to waste

US households alone throw away more than

2.7 million apples each year

HOW?

store smart Keep fruits and veggies in the fridge instead of on the counter—they’ll last longer and you’ll throw less away SAVE LEFTOVERS Try it at home and in restaurants Plan meals Make a list of meals for the week, and buy only what you need at the store

Save Food

seasonal

Less

Support

Cook smart

shop seasonal When it comes to fresh food like fruits and veggies, thinking seasonally saves energy and resources on a global scale. Educate yourself so you can make the smartest choices for your location and budget.

WHY? A lot of energy is wasted

growing food in the wrong place or at the wrong time of year

HOW?

explore Visit www.oxfamamerica.org/growmethod to find out what’s in season near you, then try using one of these ingredients in a new recipe ask questions learn more about how your food is grown, where it comes from, and how it’s transported plant your own Get in touch with the seasons with a fruit and vegetable garden

Save Food

seasonal

Less

Support

Cook smart

less meat

The livestock that provide our meat and dairy products use up huge amounts of water and land, and create harmful greenhouse gas emissions, too. Going meatless just once a week can help grow more food for people who need it while taking pressure off the planet.

WHY? Livestock production uses

8 percent of the world’s clean water supply By making one meal a week with lentils instead of beef,

a family of four can save the equivalent of 17 bathtubs full of water

HOW?

go meatless try making a vegetarian meal for yourself or your family once a week swap it out Try using a nondairy option instead of a dairy product

Save Food

seasonal

Less

Support

Cook smart

Find recipes Go to pinterest.com/oxfamgrowmethod to find a new recipe or share your favorite

support farmers Only a small percentage of what we spend on food actually reaches the people who farm and produce it.

Even when prices go up, farmers in poor countries rarely benefit.

To help, look for products and brands that ensure small-scale food producers get a fair deal.

WHY? about 30,000 small-scale cocoa farmers could benefit If Americans in urban areas bought two fair trade chocolate bars EACH month

HOW?

Buy Fair Trade Find fairly traded products like chocolate, coffee, or tea at the grocery store and at your favorite café connect with farmers Shop at your local farmers’ market— it’s also good to support growers close to home Use your voice Tell food companies and politicians to give farmers and workers a better deal. For example, urge your local supermarket to join the Equitable Food Initiative (www.equitablefood.net)

Save Food

seasonal

Less

Support

Cook smart

cook smart Most of us use our kitchens every single day. So if we all make a few little tweaks to the way we cook, we can MAKE a big impact. Try these simple changes to save energy and water, while saving money, too.

WHY?

If urban households in six countries cooked more efficiently, the benefit would be the same as

planting 540 million trees and letting them grow for 10 years

HOW?

Try these tips Add just enough water to cover your veggies instead of filling the pan to the top; use a flat-bottomed pan and cover it with a lid; and reduce the heat as soon as the water starts to boil multitask Use your oven for more than one thing at a time, like warming up dinner while baking cupcakes unplug Turn off or unplug the microwave and other kitchen appliances when not in use

Save Food

seasonal

Less

Support

Cook smart

try it.

Teach it.

Share it.

Cook it.

Eat it.

Tweet it.

Post it.

Blog it. ‘Like’ it. connect with others, share recipes, and find more ideas: www.oxfamamerica.org/growmethod

Oxfam works in more than 90 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice.

GROW is Oxfam’s global campaign to build a better food system: one that sustainably feeds a growing population and empowers poor people to earn a living, feed their families, and thrive.

We’re calling on companies and governments to change the unfair rules that keep people from accessing the food they need, while making practical, positive changes in our own lives.

GROW is about the belief that small efforts add up.

It’s about working together—for food, fairness, and the future of our planet.

People around the world are already part of it.

And now you are, too. find out how to take action: www.oxfamamerica.org/grow

Work together, GROW solutions.

Two-thirds of American moms * said they wanted to know more about how their food choices could make a difference. Do you?

To get started, look inside.

* Based on a 2012 Oxfam survey. For more information on the facts found in this guide, read the report “The Food Transformation” at www.oxfamamerica.org/growmethod. © 2012 Oxfam America Inc. All Rights Reserved.