5 ways you can fight food waste

Did you know that the average household food waste in Australia is 81kg per capita per year?1 When we waste food, we are also wasting the energy and water that it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it. Together, we can fight food waste and act by following these 5 easy steps!

_{1. UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021 (https://www.unep.org/resources/report/unep-foodwaste- index-report-2021)}

By simply taking note of your weekly food habits you can help reduce the amount of food waste you accumulate within your home. Look through your pantry and fridge each week to see which items you always seem to be rebuying before using them all up. Are there apples in the fridge that you throw out each week because you never got around to eating them? Do you somehow have 3 tomato sauce bottles all nearly empty? Noticing little things like this about your food storage habits can help you better prepare your shopping lists to only buy the food products you need for the week.

There’s something about leftovers, they somehow always taste better the next day! Instead of going straight to the bin before you put your dishes away, save the food on your plate that you can eat the next day and pop it into a container for lunch. If you know you’re unlikely to eat your leftovers within 3 days, store them in the freezer and label them accordingly, that way you always have something prepared when you’re strapped for time. Get creative! Think of a different meal you can make the next day with the leftovers from the meal you just cooked.

When leftovers aren’t an option, repurpose your food scraps with a compost bin! We all know most meal preparations leave scraps from the stems, peels, and unusable bits of food, so instead of throwing them away in the regular bin, get your own compost bin. Even coffee grounds and tea leaves make a great addition to a compost heap. Having a compost bin gives you the opportunity to repurpose food scraps by turning into nutrient-rich fertiliser that will benefit the environment.

Perishable items, such as fruits and vegetables, all have their own way to be stored to avoid spoilage. Rotting food in landfill produces methane which is a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide. About 6-8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced if we stop wasting food2. It’s important to store food correctly to keep your produce fresher for longer. By doing so you will reduce waste and save money, whilst doing your part to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Pinterest channels for tips on the best ways to store fresh produce.

_{2. WWF Fight climate change by preventing food waste 2022 (https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/fight-climate-change-by-preventing-food-waste)}

An easy way to overcome over-buying is to pre-plan your meals! Make your own tailored weekly meal plans following our delicious recipes, that will take the stress out of having to think about what to cook once you get home from work. By following our recipes you will learn the exact quantities needed for each of your meals, helping you better write your weekly shopping list and avoid over-buying.