Almost all of us say that we love food, but do we really? Do we respect it? Globally, we waste about one third of all food produced.

In a vast world of 7 billion people where all you hear about are our differences, there are some important things that connect us, and one of these is food. Food connects us all. We all need it, depend on it, survive because of it and derive happiness from it.In fact, food is part of who we are. It’s part of our habits and cultures. Hundreds of TV shows, movies and podcasts revolve around the topic of food, and cookbooks always sit among the bestsellers. Food is even part of how we interact with others. Foodies promptly and amply share recipes and dining experiences. And who hasn’t posted a photo of their favourite dish on their social media channels? The talk of food is all around us.

So if we love food so much, why do we let so much of it go rotten in our fridges, get left behind at our parties, get thrown out in our stores or dumped off of our plates? One third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted. We love food, but we don’t take care of it. We don’t respect it. We all want the respect that Aretha Franklin sang about and to get it we should give it.

Here are 6 ways to help us love our food better and grow respect for the world behind what we eat:

1. Reduce your food waste

2. Support your local food producers

3. Appreciate the workmanship in producing it

4. Adopt a healthier, more sustainable diet

5. Learn where food comes from

6. Have a conversation

For many people on the planet, food is a given. It is there in a house or in a store if we need it and we usually have the means to buy it. But for many, food is scarce or elusive. For the staggering 821 million people who are hungry, food is not a guarantee. It is a daily challenge.

Respecting food means appreciating the back-story of food. When we know the full picture, it is easier to see what our food really stands for and how precious it really is.