This term, our Year 8 Food Studies students have taken on an important challenge: understanding and reducing food waste.

Students were both surprised and concerned to learn that one third of all food produced globally is wasted—the equivalent of six garbage trucks worth of food being thrown out every single second. Students were provided with an essential question to unpack- "How can the power of individual choice create a future without food waste?"

Throughout the term, students have been investigating practical ways to reduce food waste in everyday life. Here are some of the tips students discovered and wanted to share with other KWC families: 

• Look before you buy – Check what you already have at home
• Buy only what you need – Plan meals and stick to a list
• Shop locally and seasonally – Support farmers markets and reduce food miles
• Store food correctly – Extend shelf life with proper storage
• Cook with what you have – Use existing ingredients before purchasing more

Our school value of excellence and perseverance is shining bright in the year 8 classes. Most practical lessons students have been given items of food without a recipe to follow. They have 10minutes at the start of the lesson to use their previous cooking skills to plan, manage and create a delicious dish such a ‘Use it Up’ stuffed potato. This encourages them to apply their knowledge in a practical, problem-solving context—turning potential waste into delicious dishes!

As part of their major assessment, students have taken on a creative and hands-on challenge: designing their own ‘Use It Up’ recipe card using a set of leftover or commonly wasted kitchen items. Keep your eye peeled for some recipes to come that you can use at home. 

Thanks to our Year 8 students, who are proving that small choices in the kitchen can lead to big impacts for our planet.

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