Water is life; the basis of all we produce and consume. It is a must for our existence, and it needs to be treated with respect.
Sometimes we don’t realise how much of it is wasted when it’s not in front of us, but we are much more dependent on water than we think to run our daily lives.
From an apple to a grain of rice to these very devices that allow us to read this article, the making of everything we use costs water. Here are a few examples to show how much water is used to create our food.
What’s the cost of one?
Avocado: Beloved by many, avocado is an excellent base for sauces, salads, sandwiches and even smoothies. Nevertheless, it is a problematic crop to grow and to source locally. Plus, it is tough to catch them in a perfectly edible state. Avocados need to be consumed as soon as they’re ripe because shortly after they become overripe, fast. How much water goes to waste when 1 avocado is wasted then? It takes about 227 litres of water to produce 1 avocado. So, if you are not going to use a whole avocado, here’s a way to save it. Rub the rest with lemon, cover with stretch film and store it in the refrigerator. It should extend its life for one or two more days. You will be avoiding food and water waste and keep your ingredients fresh.
Potatoes: A hearty, tasty and inspirational food, potatoes are delicious in any way we serve it. Yet, wasting just a single potato means wasting 25 litres of water. Don’t store potatoes near onions as onions cause them to sprout faster to add even more time to its long shelf life.
Bread: Bread is the most wasted food on Earth. Despite the limitless possibilities it offers, both fresh and stale, unfortunately, we don’t make the most of it. Beyond the food waste, at least 40 litres of water also goes to waste with each slice of bread that is wasted.
Click here to find out what you can do with stale bread to fight against waste straight from your kitchen!
How much water goes into making our favourite drinks?
Or the best way to start the day, breakfasts? For many countries, coffee or tea is a breakfast must, but how much water does it take to make enough tea for a cup? Well, the journey of making one cup of tea takes about 35 litres while coffee ramps up to a whopping 140 litres per cup!
Opting for fruits or milk also goes beyond the glass. A vitamin C powerhouse, a glass of freshly squeezed Orange Juice costs about 170 litres while one glass milk needs at least 200 litres of water to be made.
What about animal products?
A simple brekkie of a single egg and a slice of cheese costs 185 litres of water. It takes 15,455 litres of water to produce one kilogram of beef. So, it takes about 2500 litres of water to make a burger.
Water is our future, and we need to protect it by buying according to our needs. We can do this by making use of leftovers first and learning more about the best way to store specific foods and vegetables. Click here to find out how to make the most of your fridge.
