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Sustainability Made Simple

Picture Perfect: A Glimpse at Digesting Visual Information


Oftentimes when discussing flaws in our nation’s food system, the conversation can become convoluted by a lot of statistics without much attention paid to what any of it looks like on a day-to-day basis. The numbers may be alarming, but it is less likely to catch the eye in a meaningful way. Though we may discuss that food waste and food insecurity are prevalent issues that impact individual lives, it can be quite hard to visualize. 

Eat Right, also known as Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, is one of the largest organizations composed of nutrition professionals offering a wealth of information on diet and nutrition. It is a highly valued source of nutrition and food services. The organization is unique in its use of infographics, or visual representations of knowledge and data. 

The ADA’s website primarily focuses on providing information on food, fitness and health, though it has a page of infographics dedicated to reducing food waste. The infographics are downloadable and non-commercial, intended for educational purposes only. The first infographic that appears on the site reads “Feed People, Not Landfills,” and is followed by eye-catching visuals of the food waste journey accompanied by statistics. The visuals explain what happens to food once it enters a landfill and begins breaking down into methane gas, a primary pollutant contributing to climate change. The next infographic focuses on how to reduce waste by thoroughly reading food labels; proper storage ensures fresh food and reduces the amount wasted. The visuals show what to look for on a label and even offer downloadable apps that aid in the process. There are more images representing proper ways to store different kinds of decaying foods. There is a visual guide to canning as well, showing how fun and creative preserving foods can be. 

The utilization of infographics in this case implements strategic communication in a unique way. Visual representations of information are simply easier to digest and are typically more eye-catching. They are effective in reaching a larger audience, as they take less time to process and can be shared with ease on social media. The infographics on the ADA site are colorful, with fun design representations of the issues at hand. Using infographics to display information is incredibly helpful when trying to fit complex issues into a small, engaging space. ADA is successful in 1) identifying and representing the broad implications of food waste, and 2) presenting fun and easy ways to combat the issue at home. 

To further your understanding of food waste reducing, visit: https://www.eatright.org/homefoodsafety/multimedia/infographics/reducing-food-waste-infographic

Infographic taken directly from eatright.org

By Romy Perruzzi

I am a 22 year-old public relations major at the University of Oregon. I have a passion for environmental activism and hope to share tips on how to lower waste production in the kitchen.