World Food Day 2021 is celebrated on October 16th, but what does that mean for you and me? Scroll to the bottom of this post to see what virtual events are planned for this year.
What did you have for breakfast? What did you have for lunch? What are you planning to have for dinner tonight? And how about those in between meals and snacks?
On October 16th, give this some thought and then turn your thoughts outward to the rest of the world as we recognize that it’s World Food Day. Ironically, what that means for millions of people is NOTHING. The starving people throughout our world will eat NOTHING today.
This isn’t a post to make you feel guilty about the many, many choices you have when it comes to meals and snack times, this is just a gentle reminder that elsewhere in the world people are hungry…starving…malnourished.
As the founder of ThePlantBasedDiet.com, a website that offers information on nutrition, recipes, and video stories on healthy eating and living, I feel compelled to raise awareness about a problem many of us too often don’t think about. Thankfully, there are thousands of volunteers who do.
What is World Food Day?
World Food Day (October 16) was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1979 and was first observed in 1981. The goal is to end world hunger. All over the world observances are held to draw attention to this cause and day.
But it must be more than a day of acknowledging the efforts, the needs, the actions taken. We have to recognize that the choices we make at an individual level can and will impact those who are greatly suffering somewhere far from us. This is hard to do because what is unseen is often unattended to — left to somehow fight to shine its light to bring awareness to areas of much need.
World Food Day Theme
Each year World Food Day has a different theme. In past years it’s been themes such as in 2014 Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth”; in 2015 it was “Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty.
At the time of this writing a World Food Day 2021 theme has not been announced.
Can we really feed the world? The organizers of World Food Day say yes.
According to World Food Day USA and Canada, “the world has enough resources to feed every hungry person”. What’s gone wrong? Politics. Roadblocks to achieving fulfillment of a most basic need.
The organization also says that, “60% of the Earth’s resources are used unsustainably. By definition, a sustainable food system produces nutritious diets for all people today while protecting the capacity of future generations to feed themselves tomorrow.”
Get involved with World Food Day every day
If you want to know what you can do to help, visit World Food Day USA and Canada on Facebook. Read and see where events and activities are taking place. Simply starting with awareness will begin a journey to greater observations and likely positive actions. Share this with those who are ready to support ending world hunger.
In addition to sharing article posts like this one via social media to spread awareness, you can feed someone who is hungry. You can do it through an organization where you live or make a financial donation. One of the best feelings is giving a helping hand. Check out a local organization near you or take a look at Food For The Hungry and its mission of “Ending Poverty, Together.”
Maybe volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank. Once, my fiancé and I wrapped up plates of food that we had and went to downtown San Diego to feed the homeless. They were so grateful to receive a warm plate of good food. Remember, you probably have lot of leftovers, food waste is so prevalent.
Here’s how countries are celebrating World Food Day 2021
World Food Day is celebrated by more than 150 countries around the globe. Here is how some of the world is honoring this important day.
World Food Day 2021 is being celebrated in Toronto, Canada with the lighting of the Toronto skyline in blue at the CN Tower. Fortunately, you don’t have to be in Canada to see it. You can watch the livestream starting at Canada’s sunset. The lighting will run for 8 minutes at the top of every hour, followed by another light show on the half-hour. Tune in to the World Food Day 2021 CN Tower blue skyline here or just check it out now, it’s a cool earthcam pic!
In Dubai, World Food Day 2021 will be the first International Day to be celebrated at Expo Dubai as a series of activities and events call for global solidarity in rethinking and reshaping food systems for people and the planet.
This is sure to be a spectacular event at Niagara Falls. Organizers are lighting the iconic landmark blue. The Niagara Falls Illumination Board and North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) hope to bring awareness to World Food Day and to the much-needed efforts to end hunger. The event will be broadcast virtually at 10 pm EDT on October 16, 2021, watch Niagara Falls World Food Day here.
See the full list of events for this year’s World Food Day, here.
Updates
Article Originally published October 16, 2013
Updated September 23, 2021
