Tips to Reduce Food Waste

It’s estimated that in the UK, about 6.7 million tonnes of food is lost or wasted every year. In industrialised countries, food loss and waste amounts to approximately, £492 billion. The reality is, we waste a huge amount of money and resources when it comes to our food production- but there are a lot of ways you can reduce your own personal contribution by following these tips!

Plan Your Meals

It’s always a good idea to have a meal plan for the week. That way you can make a list of items you need when you’re shopping. You’ll also be less likely to throw things out that you bought on a whim and didn’t end up using before the due date.

Cook The Right Amount & Freeze Leftovers

If you’re cooking for two, consider cutting the recipe in half to avoid wasting your time with leftovers. Alternatively, make use of your freezer and freeze the leftovers. If you’re making a meal it can be more cost effective to buy in bulk and freeze some portions of the meal to use at a later date.

Buy Imperfect Vegetables

Fruit and vegetables that have not grown in a uniform way will often not make it to the supermarket shelves. If a cucumber is too curved or a carrot too small, they can end up being wasted. Watch out for places that offer reduced price boxes of fruit and veg that are perfectly fine but didn’t hit the mark aesthetically.

Use The Old First

As you put food away, make sure to use the old items before using the new ones.

Use Scraps Wisely

Some food wastage is inevitable, but you can make the most of your scraps by creating a compost area in your garden.

Preserve Your Own

It’s much easier than you think. A great starting point is this bread and butter pickle recipe.

Managing food waste

With a little planning and thought, you can eliminate most food waste. If somehow you end up with extras due to too many sales or something else then could donate it to your local foodbank or use an app such as Olio to see if anyone in your local area would make use of the food!