These days we're all a little more environmentally friendly than we used to be. We're used to recycling cardboard and plastic, and more recently the focus has switched to reducing our food waste. When you're busy with work and family life, it's all too easy to forget about that broccoli languishing in the fridge, or to order a takeaway rather than using up the leftovers from the night before. It doesn't have to be too difficult though. A few small changes and a little bit of planning can make all the difference.
Plan Like A Boss
It seems obvious, but reducing food waste really comes down to how well you plan in advance. Before you go grocery shopping, sit down and plan your meals for the week and make a list. If you know what you’ll be eating for a few days, you won’t end up with leftover vegetables. Roast chicken and broccoli on Sunday? Use the leftovers in a curry on Monday. As an added benefit, this is a fantastic way to save some money. I like to plan for 3 days at a time so that I don't get overwhelmed (am I alone here?) or end up with wilting vegetables by Thursday. Try it this week and see how you get on.
Embrace Lists
More lists! Let’s face it, we all forget what we have in our fridges and cupboards from time to time. When you’re standing in the supermarket after work it’s easy to forget that you already bought onions and that you definitely have enough chicken breasts for the new recipe you want to try out. Make a list of everything you have in your fridge and cupboards and update as you add and remove things. If you make the list on your phone (download one of the many free list apps), you’ll never double-up on food in the supermarket again.
Clear Your Fridge
Sometimes, no matter how well you plan, you end up with wilted vegetables and leftover meat in the fridge. Once a week check what needs to be used up and turn it into a quick and easy omelette, pasta dish or potato hash. Tasty, hassle-free, environmentally-friendly food in minutes. Check your cupboards and counters too. If you have a glut of overripe bananas, make banana bread (any excuse!) or freeze them and use them to cool down your smoothies.
Use Your Freezer
If you don’t think you’re going to get around to using up your leftovers before they go off, pop them in the freezer. Meat, stews, curries, soups and even hard cheeses like parmesan freeze really well. Defrost them slowly in the fridge and you’re ready to go. Make sure you label and date your food though, and remember, the aim to take the food out to eat rather than to throw in the bin 6 months down the line when it's freezer burnt. Hands up if you've done this. (My hands are both firmly in the air!)
Compost
You may be able to reduce the amount of food waste you produce, but you’re unlikely to produce none. If you have a garden, a compost heap is a fantastic way to use up food waste that you don’t get around to eating. Plus you get lots of lovely nutritious compost. Learn what you can put in your compost heap and how to make the most of it - your garden will thank you. And if you don’t have room for a compost heap or the need for lots of compost, just pop your food waste into compostable bags (I like Obeo) and throw the bag into your organic waste bin.
Sounds pretty easy, right? Try adopting one or two of our tips for reducing food waste and you'll see a huge difference in how much food goes in the bin. And when you love food as much as we do, that can only be a good thing.
Do you have any clever tips that help you reduce food waste? We'd love to hear about them. Let us know in the comments below or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.