Don’t Waste Food: Every Bite Counts

Food is not just something we eat. It’s the result of a farmer’s hard work, water, land, and time. Yet every day, tons of food are thrown away around the world. 

Why is food waste a big problem?

1. Hunger still exists- While 1 in 9 people go to bed hungry, we waste nearly 1/3 of all food produced globally.

2. Money loss - Wasting food means wasting the money you spent to buy it.

3. Harms the planet - Rotting food in landfills produces methane, a gas that makes global warming worse. Growing food also uses a lot of water and energy.

How does food get wasted?

- At home: Cooking too much, forgetting leftovers in the fridge, buying more than we need

- At restaurants/hotels: Big buffet portions, uneaten plates

- During festivals: Cooking extra and throwing it away

- At farms/shops: Damaged vegetables and fruits that look “imperfect”

5 Easy Ways to Stop Wasting Food

1. Plan before you buy - Make a grocery list. Buy only what you need.

2. Cook smart - Take less on your plate first. You can always take more.

3. Store properly - Keep vegetables, fruits, and leftovers in airtight containers so they stay fresh longer.

4. Use leftovers creatively - Yesterday’s rice can become fried rice. Stale bread can become bread crumbs.

5. Respect food - Remember the farmer who grew it. In India we say _“Anna Daata Sukhi Bhava”_ - May the one who gives food be happy.

The Bigger Lesson

When we waste food, we disrespect nature and the people who work hard to bring it to us. Saving food is not just about saving money. It’s about being responsible and caring.

Small action, big impact

Next time before you throw food, ask: “Can someone else eat this? Can I use it differently?”  

If every family saves just a little food each day, we can feed many hungry people and protect our Earth.

       Apeksha R Tandel

A Leaked Paper Is Not Worth A Life

To every NEET aspirant and their families

1. Dear Student

I know what you’re feeling right now. Anger. Helplessness. Fear.  

Months of study, mock tests, sacrifices — and then the news: "NEET paper leaked."  

It feels like your hard work was stolen. Like your future is unfair.

But please listen: No one can leak your discipline. No one can leak your growth. No one can leak YOU.

A paper can be reprinted. A test can be reconducted. Your life cannot. 

If your mind is saying I’m a burden" or "What’s the point— that is stress lying to you. You are not a burden. Your dream is not over. You are bigger than one exam.

2. Dear Parents

We see your sacrifice. The loans. The coaching fees. The nights you stayed awake worrying.  

You did all this because you love your child and believe in their dream but your child is not a marksheet. Your child is not a rank.  

The biggest success is not a medical seat. It’s your child alive, safe, and hopeful.

Tell them: We took the loan for you, not for a paper. We are proud of you no matter what.

Money can be earned back. A child cannot.

3. This is not your fault

If the system failed, that failure does not define you. You chose the honest path. You showed up.  

Authorities are accountable. Investigations happen. Re-exams happen. Students have changed things facing them by standing together peacefully.

Don’t let panic make decisions. Focus on what you can control: your health, your preparation, your next step.

4. Your life has many paths

Doctor, researcher, therapist, public health worker — there are many ways to heal people and serve.  

Your compassion and resilience matter more than one day, one paper.

--- Apeksha R Tandel

Forest -The Living Breath of Nature

1. Importance of the Forest

A forest is not just a group of trees. It is home to millions of living beings. The forest is nature's factory that gives humans air, water, rain, and food. One tree produces enough oxygen in a day for 4 people to breathe.

2. Hub of Biodiversity

Tigers, elephants, bears, deer, monkeys, hundreds of types of birds, reptiles, and insects live in the forest. Every creature is an important link in the food chain. If even one species is destroyed, the entire balance is disturbed.

3. Climate and Rain

Forests attract clouds and bring rain. The roots of trees hold the soil together and prevent floods and landslides. The saying "If there is a forest, there is rain. If there is rain, there is a crop" is absolutely true.

4. Humans and the Forest

Humans have lived with the forest since ancient times. Tribal communities worship the forest like a god. We get medicinal plants, fruits, and timber from the forest. But when we cut down forests for our own selfish needs, we end up harming ourselves.

5. Threats to the Forest

Today forests are being destroyed due to excessive deforestation, forest fires, poaching, plastic, and pollution. This is leading to problems like climate change, destruction of animal habitats, and water scarcity.

6. Our Responsibility

Saving the forest means saving our future.  

- We should plant trees  

- We should stop deforestation  

- We should reduce the use of plastic  

- We should protect wildlife  

Conclusion

As poet Kuvempu said "Grow the forest, save the land." Humans cannot survive without forests. To give a green earth to the next generation, let us all love and protect the forest starting today.

--- Apeksha R Tandel

On confidence

Confidence is believing in yourself. It doesn’t mean you never feel scared. It means you try even when you are scared.

Confidence grows slowly. Every small success adds to it. Every time you speak up, try something new, or finish a task, your confidence improves.

Mistakes don’t reduce confidence. They build it. Because after every mistake, you learn and become stronger.

You don’t need to be perfect to have confidence. You just need to start. The more you practice, the more confident you become.

Remember: Confidence is not given by others. We build it from within.

 

Apeksha R Tandel

Our Town - Tonka Kasarkod, Honnavar

Tonka Kasarkod is a beautiful coastal village near Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district.

The special thing about our town is its location. To the west lies the Arabian Sea, and to the east flows the Sharavati River. The sea is our life. Every day fishermen go in boats and bring back fish. The beach in the evening is very beautiful.

In the middle of the Arabian Sea there is a beautiful hill. Its name is Netrani Hill. This hill is the pride of our village. Tourists and locals come to see this hill. Netrani Hill adds more beauty to our sea.

The main occupation of our village is fishing only. There is no agriculture here. Hundreds of families depend only on the fish from the sea for their livelihood but for the last few years we have been struggling a lot because of the HPPL company.  

HPPL means Honnavar Port Private Limited Company. Because of this company’s projects, fishermen are facing problems to go to the sea. Our livelihood is coming to a dangerous situation.

Apeksha R. Tandel

The Real Heroes of the Sea

Fishermen and Fisherwomen: The Real Heroes of the Sea 🌊

Their day starts at 4 AM, while it's still dark. Rain, cold, or storm — the sea is their workplace and their life.

The Fisherman 

From dawn till dusk, he casts nets, steers the boat, and battles the waves to catch fish. He knows every current, every shift in the wind. But there's no guarantee he'll get a fair price for the fish he risks his life to catch.

The Fisherwoman

It's not just about catching fish. She also carries baskets of fish on her head to the market, stands in the sun and rain to sell them. She manages the house, the kids' studies, and often helps her husband with the boat work too — all by herself.

What are their struggles?

1. Climate change: Cyclones and rough seas put their lives at risk

2. Middlemen: They rarely get the right price for their hard work

3. Pollution: Plastic and factory waste in the sea means fewer fish

4. Debt trap: Loans for boats and nets are hard to repay

And yet, they keep smiling and moving forward. Because for them, the sea is everything.

The next time we eat fish on our plate, let's take a moment to think about the hands that brought it to us. Let's be their voice.

Apeksha R Tandel

The Fisherman - A True Warrior of the Sea

Summary:

A fisherman is not just a profession. It’s a life of courage, patience, and struggle with nature. In every bite we eat, there is a story of his sweat and hard work.

While the whole town is still asleep at 4 AM, the fisherman is already heading to the sea with his boat and net.

For him, the sea is both mother and teacher. He understands the rise and fall of waves, the direction of the wind, and the movement of fish — all from years of experience.

Hardship and Sacrifice

Fishing is not an easy job. He has to face the scorching sun, heavy rain, and even storms. Some days he returns with an empty net. But the very next day, he goes back to the sea with the same courage.

His Contribution to Us

The fish curry and fried fish on our plate are all the result of a fisherman’s hard night work. Without him, the lives of coastal people and the hotel business would come to a standstill.

Challenges Today

Today, pollution, overfishing, and climate change have made a fisherman’s life even harder. But still, they continue to live with respect for the sea, using their traditional knowledge.

           Apeksha R Tandel

Joys of Turning Pages

Summary

No matter how much technology grows, nothing can match the smell of a book and the experience of turning its pages.

The Importance of Books in the Digital Age

These days everything is on mobile and the internet. But even now, reading books is still important. Books don’t just give us knowledge. They also bring peace to the mind. 

If we read on a screen for 10 minutes, our eyes get tired. But when we hold a book in our hands and read, our focus increases and our memory also becomes stronger.

A book is our best friend. It tells us stories, gives us new ideas, and reduces stress. If we make a habit of reading one book every week, our lives itself can change.

Apeksha R. Tandel