Every year, the world wastes 1.3 billion tons of food while billions of people struggle with hunger. This contradiction stems not only from poor resource management but also from a lack of societal awareness. The Zero Hunger initiative by the United Nations aims to end this inequality, ensuring that everyone has access to adequate nutrition. Surprisingly, the key to achieving this ambitious goal might be in the hands of our smallest members: children!

Children, with their open minds and boundless creativity, are powerful agents of change. By teaching them the importance of preventing food waste and embracing sustainable eating habits at an early age, we can lay the foundation for both personal and global transformation. But this education should be anything but boring—it should be fun, engaging, and inspiring. Let’s explore how we can achieve the Zero Hunger goal together with children.

Why is zero hunger important for children?

  • Big habits start small: children quickly implement what they learn. When concepts like food waste, sustainable agriculture, and healthy eating are introduced early, they become lifelong habits.

  • Change begins at home and beyond: children not only absorb knowledge but also spread it. A story about food waste learned at school might save a plate of leftovers from going to the trash at home.

  • Empathy and awareness: learning about the struggles of children who face hunger fosters empathy. This awareness helps kids become more compassionate and responsible individuals.

How to make zero hunger education fun

  • Come to the kitchen, be a hero!: when kids step into the kitchen, they do more than cook—they learn to value food. Workshops like "Delicious Meals from Leftovers" show kids how to turn vegetable scraps into soup, proving that waste can be transformed into a meal.

  • What's on your plate game: create a points-based system during school lunch breaks. Kids earn points by finishing everything on their plates. Less waste = more points! This turns avoiding food waste into a fun habit.

  • Making friends with vegetables: if you can’t get kids to love vegetables, try bringing them to life! Broccoli can be a superhero: “I’m Broccoli! My superpower is fighting off germs to keep you healthy!” Kids love such stories and will want these “heroes” on their plates.

  • Seed to plate experience: schools can establish small gardens where children plant seeds, grow vegetables, and harvest them. Eating food they’ve grown themselves teaches them the value of effort and resources.

  • A global story: share a fictional diary of a child facing hunger worldwide. For instance, “Maria could only find one slice of bread today, which she shared with her family. What did you eat today?” Stories like these build empathy and make kids think twice before wasting food.

Special school activities for zero hunger

  • Zero waste picnics: organize a picnic where kids bring leftover food from home. The goal is to repurpose and share these foods. For example, they can make "Stale Bread Pizza" or other creative dishes, learning while having fun.

  • Nutritious food art: hold an activity where kids create "food art" using healthy ingredients. While designing their plates, they learn about nutritious foods and unleash their artistic sides.

Key messages to deliver

Hunger isn’t a game, but solving it can be.

By turning education into play, we can teach kids to change the world.

Finishing your plate is a habit that protects resources.

Taking only what you need is the first step in protecting resources.

Zero Hunger isn’t just a goal; it’s a way of life.

Instilling these values in children today creates a generation of changemakers tomorrow.

Conclusion: small steps, big differences

The Zero Hunger goal may seem like an enormous challenge. However, achieving it doesn’t require massive leaps—it needs millions of small steps. And no one is better prepared to take those steps than children! Teaching them these values in an enjoyable way is an investment not just in today but also in the future.

So, how about sharing the Zero Hunger goal with the children in your life? Today, they may start with something as small as eating their broccoli hero, but tomorrow, they could become the leaders who save the world!

In light of all this, if you want to create an activity that educates while teaching, I have a recipe to suggest for making waste reduction fun and teaching it to children.

Baked veggie balls (healthy and delicious)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup leftover rice
  • 1/2 cup cooked or sautéed vegetables (such as zucchini, carrot, broccoli, or potato)
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons cottage cheese or shredded cheese
  • 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour or breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried mint or oregano
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

  1. Place the leftover rice and vegetables in a bowl. If the vegetables are in large pieces, mash them slightly.

  2. Add the egg, cheese, flour, olive oil, salt, pepper, spices, and baking powder. Mix everything thoroughly until you get a dough-like consistency that can be shaped.

  3. Shape the mixture into walnut-sized balls and flatten them.

  4. Place the veggie balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the top lightly with olive oil.

  5. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.

  6. Let them cool slightly before serving.

Why zero waste?

  • Leftover rice: This recipe helps reuse leftover rice, preventing food waste.

  • Vegetable scraps: Small vegetable pieces left over from meals can be used in this recipe.

  • Healthy: Instead of frying, these are baked, making them lower in fat.

Serving suggestions

Serve them with a yogurt dip or tomato sauce on the side. For a fun twist, you can serve them on skewers for kids. This recipe is a perfect example of using up leftovers in a creative and tasty way, reducing waste while providing a nutritious snack. Enjoy!