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The annual pancake feast is over, and conventionally, today February 10th marks the start of a 40 day fast from our biggest food foibles. But here at The Seasoned Student, we’re taking on a different challenge: rather than giving food up, we’re going to try giving it away.

In the UK, we throw out 7 million tonnes of food and drink from our homes every year, with the average family wasting £60 worth of food each month. The majority of this food can, and should, be eaten. But what can we do with the food that we don’t want to eat ourselves?

This Lent, we’re joining the food sharing revolution, championed in Britain by the start-up OLIO Exchange OLIO is a free app which facilitates food sharing between homes, shops and cafes, helping surplus food to be distributed and enjoyed. All it takes is to upload a photo of the things you want to give away (be it chocolate, lager or exotic vegetables), and a nearby OLIO user can collect your fare in person or through the OLIO drop box scheme.

Not only is this a simple way to stop food wastage, but it’s also a great opportunity to connect with neighbours and grow communities. So join the revolution and get food sharing! We can’t wait to see what we find (and who we meet) over the next 40 days.

PS. OLIO are looking for student interns and ambassadors to help promote food sharing around our universities. If you’re interested in hearing more about these roles, get in touch at [email protected] !

A Bit About Our Contributor:

Fran is a postgraduate student at the University of Aberdeen and the founder of The Seasoned Student a new organisation bringing innovation to the student diet. If you are interested in writing for their website or getting involved in a Seasoned Students event, they’d love to hear from you!