At Toujours Mikes, we believe that it is crucial to think about our future generations and save our beautiful planet that feeds us fresh food from the land and sea every day to create our dishes. Being part of the restaurant industry for almost 55 years, where food surplus is too often wasted, it is important to us to get involved in the fight against food waste! Learn more about this issue, find out how you can reduce food waste at home and how Toujours Mikes is getting involved in this crucial fight through the Sauvegarde app.
Food Waste Fast Facts
According to a March 2021 United Nations report, 931 million tons of food are thrown away or wasted worldwide each year. This has many environmental, social, and economic consequences. Here are some highlights on food waste in the world and at home:
- Accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- About 20% of the food produced in Canada is lost or wasted.
- If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest polluter in the world after China and the United States.
- When food is thrown away or wasted, all the resources that were used to grow, sell and prepare it are also wasted, such as water, packaging and transportation.
What is the Sauvegarde application?
Sauvegarde is a Montreal-based company specializing in the fight against food waste. Its new application allows Montrealers to buy food surplus at reduced prices from food retailers such as cafés, bakeries, restaurants and grocery stores. It's super easy to use and a win-win situation: users get delicious food at a discounted price while retailers reduce their losses and waste.
How to avoid food waste at home?
By adopting the following good habits, you will actively participate in the fight against food waste in addition to saving on your groceries:
- Plan your meals for the week by taking the time to look at the food you already have in the fridge. You can then make a grocery list accordingly and reduce the cost of your weekly bill.
- Use your fridge strategically to store your food better and keep it longer:
- Door: store all the less fresh foods like sauces, condiments, pickles, jams, butter, and assorted beverages.
- Top shelf: Cheeses, yogurts, cooked and ready-to-eat foods.
- Bottom shelf: Lowest temperature, ideal for fragile foods such as milk, open vegetable drinks and eggs.
- Drawers: Use one drawer exclusively for your raw meat, poultry, and fish to avoid the risk of juices leaking out and contaminating other foods. Use another drawer for your fruits and vegetables.
- Freezer: Put any food you want to keep for a longer period in the freezer.
The temperature of your fridge should be between 0 and 4 degrees Celsius while your freezer should be -18 degrees Celsius or lower.
- Use your freezer to its full potential by freezing your leftovers instead of refrigerating them and throwing them away.
- Use your leftover food for other purposes:
- Take your overripe fruit to make smoothies or other recipes that call for very ripe fruit, like banana bread.
- Make a soup with your soft vegetables.
- Share your extra food with your co-workers or neighbors!
How can you get food from Toujours Mikes at a great price via the Sauvegarde app?
We are very proud to be part of this great initiative that will allow you to buy food at a reduced price via the Sauvegarde app, in addition to making a significant gesture for our beautiful planet. Here is how to proceed:
- Download the Sauvegarde app on your mobile device.
- Create your user account.
- View the food offered by one of our two participating restaurants, depending on your location: Toujours Mikes Lachine and Toujours Mikes Place Versailles.
- Add the food you want to your cart and when you are done, proceed to checkout with your credit card.
- Once approved by the restaurant, you can go pick up your order on the spot.
Ready to save the planet, one tomato at a time? This is where it starts: Sauvegarde app
Sources:
- Press Release Sauvegarde app
- FAQ Sauvegarde app
- Ville de Montréal: https://montreal.ca/articles/reduire-le-gaspillage-alimentaire-6701
- Lavallée, Bernard (2015). Saving the planet one bite at a time, Montreal, Les éditions La Presse.
