UK households throw away approximately 6.6 million tonnes of food every year, and around 4.5 million tonnes of that is food that could have been eaten. Reducing food waste saves money and has a meaningful impact on the environment.
Plan Before You Shop
The most effective strategy is to plan your meals for the week and write a shopping list before you leave the house. Check what you already have in the fridge and cupboards. Stick to your list in the store, and avoid impulse buys driven by promotions on items you do not need.
Store Food Correctly
Proper storage makes a huge difference. Keep your fridge at 3 to 5 degrees Celsius. Store fruits and vegetables in the correct drawers. Learn which items should stay out of the fridge entirely, such as tomatoes, bananas, and potatoes.
Get Creative with Leftovers
When you do end up with leftovers, get creative. Overripe bananas become banana bread. Stale bread becomes breadcrumbs or croutons. Vegetable scraps can be simmered into a flavourful stock. With a bit of imagination, very little needs to go in the bin.