Doing a good deed does wonders for the soul, but did you know it could also do wonders for your waistline? Thanks to the social non-profit, Halfsies, restaurant-goers can order a healthier portion while reducing food waste and supporting the fight against hunger.QUIZ: What Did You Eat Today? Measure ItNearly 50 million Americans (including more than 16 million children) live in food insecure households—meaning they’re hungry and unable to afford enough food to eat—while about 200 million are overweight or obese. Part of that is because our portions are often double and, in some cases, quadruple the serving size recommended by the U.S. government. And yet, each year, 33 million tons of food is thrown away in the U.S. All in all, we’ve somehow created a paradoxical perfect storm of over-consumption and excessive waste.By partnering with restaurants in Austin and New York City, Halfsies may have found a way to curb hunger and obesity, all in one meal. Participating restaurants will devote a portion of their menu items to the initiative, which will be designated by a Halfsies icon. When diners choose to ‘go halfsies,’ they will receive a half-size portion while still paying full price. The restaurant then donates a portion of the bill to Halfsies. Ninety percent of the donated funds support the fight against hunger, both locally and globally, while the remaining 10 percent are used for Halfsies’ operating costs.While this particular initiative may be a novel idea, Halfsies isn’t the first of its kind to reach out to the restaurant industry to help combat hunger.MORE: Dining Out Tips to Stay HealthyFork It Over!, a Portland-based food donation program, accepts perishable and non-perishable foods prepared but not served in area restaurants, which can then claim a tax deduction.Pay-what-you-can restaurants are springing up around the country, allowing customers to determine how much they can afford to pay for a meal and in some cases, controlling their own portion sizes. Based out of Salt Lake City, the One World Everybody Eats Foundation opened nine years ago and was one of the first of its kind. Patrons not only choose their own portions to minimize waste but also price their meals themselves.Smaller businesses and foundations aren’t the only ones getting in the hunger-fighting game. Panera Bread, for example, opened three Panera Cares Community cafes in Missouri, Michigan and Oregon, where diners are given a suggested donation amount for their order and can leave whatever they can (or feel is fair) in collection bins located throughout the cafe. Even rock star Jon Bon Jovi threw his star-studded hat into the ring with Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, N.J., where customers pay the minimum donation or volunteer their time to earn a voucher for a meal.QUIZ: Explore Your Beauty With More Quizzes
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