Check out these 8 tips
Wasting food has a cost for us so we should be more mindful about it, starting from the way we do our shopping and the way we prepare our food. Here are some ideas about how you can avoid food waste:
1 – Plan your weekly meals and write a list of what you need to prepare them. You can work on a routine so you have the same meal the same day of the week. You can then leave the weekend open for random meals as they pop in your mind. By having a list you won’t make impulse buys. If you don’t have much time to cook or you are not sure about your weekly schedule just do a shorter plan. Then, buy just what you think you can prepare in the next couple of days or so.
2 – When you are at the grocery store carefully read the use-by-date information so you are aware of the expiry date.
3 – If you see discounts and multi-buy offers then buy in bulk only if you can store the products for a long time or if you can put them in the freezer. Don’t over buy.
Fruit and veg
4 – In terms of fruit and vegetables check which ones are entirely edible. Preferably go for organic produce, grown locally and in season. Ideally sold by weight so you can just buy what you need without any unnecessary plastic packaging. If anything is left over that you don’t eat remember to put it in your compost bin or wormery (if you have one!).
5 – Use at first what is left from the previous week, when you shop again put the new products at the back of the fridge.
Here are a few final ways as to how you can avoid food waste
6 – Cook larger portions so you can eat what is leftover the day after, perhaps in a different way. Otherwise you can store the leftovers in the freezer. Doing this you will also save time.
7 – If you plan to roast something try to fill a big tray or even more on two levels. This is so you don’t waste the heat of the oven on just a couple of things. What you have cooked can be eaten throughout the week or frozen in smaller portions.
8 – Once you store your leftovers in the fridge use an air-tight container, made from glass. If it is a plastic one make sure it is BPA free and suitable for the microwave if you use one to heat your food. Make sure it’s reusable in the long term.
Write in and let us know about some other ideas as to how you can avoid food waste!
