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Do you eat the rest of the ox?


The old saying goes “Do you eat the rest of the ox?” This proverb refers to fully utilizing resources and not wasting anything. In ancient times, an ox provided precious meat, milk, labor and more – so it was important not to waste any part of this valuable animal. The saying encourages people to make the most of opportunities and be resourceful.

In modern times, this age-old wisdom still rings true. With rising costs and environmental concerns, it’s more crucial than ever to use resources efficiently and not be wasteful. This article will explore if we’re truly eating the whole ox today – examining food waste, material waste, wasted time and more. We’ll also provide tips on how to better utilize resources in various areas of life.

Food Waste

One clear area where we fall short of “eating the whole ox” is food waste. Studies estimate 30-40% of food in the United States goes uneaten. This adds up to a staggering 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food waste each year.

Some key statistics on food waste:

Wasted food per person per day 0.92 lbs
Wasted fruit & vegetable servings per person per day 0.61
Retail food waste 10%
Food service waste 26%
Consumer waste 43%

With hundreds of millions facing food scarcity, this extreme waste is unethical. Plus rotting food in landfills generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Eliminating food waste would conserve resources and mitigate climate change.

There are many causes of food waste:

– Poor planning – buying/cooking excess food
– Confusing date labels – discarding food that’s still edible
– Oversized portions – preparing more than necessary
– Leftovers forgotten – allowing unused meals to spoil
– Rejection of imperfect produce – not utilizing edible “ugly” fruits/veggies
– Diners not finishing meals – plates returned with uneaten food

We clearly have a long way to go to fully eat “the rest of the ox” when it comes to food. But there are solutions:

– Meal planning and proper storage can minimize excess purchases and spoilage
– Understanding date labels and freezing surplus food extends shelf life
– Preparing/ordering smaller portions reduces waste
– Using leftovers creatively keeps them from being discarded
– Relaxing produce beauty standards minimizes waste from unused “imperfect” items
– Providing to-go boxes in restaurants lets diners finish uneaten portions later

With some effort, we can come closer to eliminating needless food waste.

Material Waste

Another area where we fall short is wasteful use of materials and goods. The average American generates over 4 pounds of trash per day, totaling over 230 million tons per year. A shocking 68% of this waste is recyclable, yet only around 32% is recycled.

Some examples of commonly wasted materials:

– Paper -printable/writing paper, cardboard, newspapers, magazines
– Plastics – packaging, bags, bottles, containers
– Metals – aluminum cans, tins
– Glass – jars, bottles
– Clothing & Textiles – unused clothes, linens, towels
– Building Materials – lumber, drywall, shingles, concrete
– Furniture – couches, chairs, mattresses, tables
– Appliances – washers, dryers, stoves, TVs
– Electronics – phones, computers, peripherals

Much of this waste could be eliminated by:

– Reducing unnecessary purchases and consumption
– Repairing, reusing and repurposing items whenever possible
– Donating or reselling good quality used goods rather than discarding
– Composting organic materials like yard waste and food scraps
– Recycling anything that can’t be reused

Again, a little mindset shift could go a long way. Viewing an item as a valuable resource could encourage its full utilization rather than premature disposal.

Wasted Time

In our busy modern lives, time is an extremely precious resource. Yet how often do we waste time on unproductive activities? Some examples:

– Mindless screen time – browsing social media or videos
– Extended breaks and long lunches – going beyond needed rest
– Excess meetings – ineffective utilization of group time
– Lack of planning and organization – rushing or being disorganized
– Getting distracted and going off task – failing to stay focused
– Delaying and procrastinating – putting off tasks until the last minute
– Repeated unproductive actions – failing to learn from mistakes
– Excessive socializing – chatting vs working efficiently

Many of us likely waste over an hour per day on such unproductive uses of time. Just imagine if we could capture even half of that time for focused, results-driven activities. The compound effect over months and years could be enormous.

To waste less time we should:

– Set focused priorities and goals
– Plan days/weeks to maximize efficiency
– Take short breaks to recharge
– Avoid distractions and stay on task
– Handle correspondence and meetings efficiently
– Continually improve processes
– Remain mindful and present throughout day

With some effort, we could utilize each day much more effectively.

Wasted Energy

Wasting energy through inefficient usage also fails to fully eat “the rest of the ox.” U.S. energy waste statistics:

Wasted electricity per year 200 million MWh
Wasted natural gas per year 1.5 trillion cubic feet
Wasted transportation fuel per year 1.4 billion gallons

We waste energy through:

– Inefficient heating/cooling – outdated appliances, poor insulation
– Inefficient gas vehicles – low mpg transportation
– Leaving lights/devices on – not powering down when not in use
– Excessive usage – using more energy than needed for task
– Equipment in standby mode – draining energy when “off”
– Overheated water – hot water tank set too high

To waste less we should:

– Update to EnergyStar appliances and properly insulate
– Drive high efficiency vehicles and properly maintain them
– Turn off lights and devices when not in use
– Moderate usage to needed levels
– Unplug devices not in use to avoid standby drain
– Set water heater only as hot as needed

Again just a little awareness and effort could lead to real energy savings.

Other Areas of Waste

There are many other areas where we could better utilize resources:

Water Waste

– Old leaky plumbing loses gallons
– Inefficient irrigation waters sidewalks not plants
– Running taps while brushing teeth, washing dishes
– Hosing driveways vs sweeping
– Old washers use excess water for laundry
– Overwatering lawns
– Taking exceptionally long showers

Financial Waste

– Unnecessary purchases and shopping
– Paying excessive fees and interest
– Not comparison shopping for deals
– Letting subscriptions/memberships go unused
– Disorganized finances and missed payments
– Impulse spending and splurging
– Gambling and speculative investing

Mental Energy Waste

– Worrying about things we can’t control
– Staying in jobs that don’t fulfill us
– Surrounding ourselves with negative people
– Watching violent or mindless entertainment
– Participating in excessive self-criticism
– Holding onto resentments and anger
– Not making time for relaxation and joy

In all these areas, a little mindful thought about waste could help guide us to better utilization of precious resources.

Conclusion

In our modern society, we’ve drifted far from the wisdom of fully utilizing resources – of eating the whole ox. Waste is prevalent in many areas of our lives. But once we become aware of this waste, steps can be taken to eliminate it. With some planning, mindfulness and effort, we can become less wasteful.

If each person made it a goal to reduce waste in their own life, it would significantly benefit the environment and sustainability. We’d save precious resources for future generations. And we’d save considerable time, energy and money that could enrich our own lives.

So be inspired to fully eat that metaphorical ox! Plan your meals wisely, repair and reuse items, focus your time productively, turn off unused lights. With some resourcefulness and awareness, you too can live a less wasteful life. Our planet, budget and happiness will thank you!