Waste not want not; Freezing food and planning meals ahead

RAYYAN SABET-PARRY

Daily Post (Liverpool)
January 17, 2012

E NVIRONMENTAL campaigners have given out top tips on how to help reduce the thousands of tonnes of food waste thrown away each year. Research suggests the average Welsh home throws away at least pounds 50 worth of food a week. So, whether it’s planning your meals ahead or simply checking your fridge and freezer for what goods you already have at home before you shop, it all contributes to minimising landfill and helping the environment.

It coincides with the Love Food Hate Waste advertising campaign launched in Wales. Waste Awareness Wales is giving handy advice on simple everyday changes we can make to help trim down our wallets as well as our waistlines.

“As many of us are starting our new year’s resolutions, it’s a good time to make some small changes to the way we shop, store and cook our food to help save money and make sure we get the best value,” said Georgina Taubman of Waste Awareness Wales.

“We’ve all heard of the phrase ‘waste not, want not’, so use this mantra for food. We often get tempted in store and to buy too much food, which needlessly ends up in our bin.”

“Before you go to the shops, it’s worth quickly checking what you already have in your fridge, freezer and food cupboards. Often we forget what we already have and end up buying more than we need.”

The charity urges people to make a meal plan per week in order to cut down on costs and wasted food. Looking out for bargains and reduced items in supermarkets is also beneficial whilst sharing bargains with friends can help spread the ethos even more.

“Plan meals depending on what needs to be eaten first so there’s less chance of waste,” added Georgina.

“If there’s something perishable that’s nearing its date, move it to the freezer if you don’t think you will eat it in time. Most foods can be frozen, even cheese. Stilton freezes really well and hard cheeses such as cheddar can be grated then frozen to use as pizza toppings or cheese on toast.”

There are endless opportunities for cooking with leftover. Cooking old apples to make apple sauce for meat is an option and stale bread can be thrown in to a food processor and frozen to make breadcrumbs. ? For more advice on shopping, meal planning, recipe ideas and portion calculators, visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

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