Stop Food Waste Day
One Small Change
One Small Change
It’s the start of the New Year, but we’re not going to say the r word! We’re not going to recommend setting big, ambitious goals that will potentially fall by the wayside once real life kicks into full throttle after the festive season.
What we are going to do is suggest making ‘One Small Change’ a week (or even a few cumulative changes over the course of a number of weeks if you feel like it, but genuinely no pressure here, do what you can realistically make happen) and see if that helps reduce your food waste and save you real money.
An added plus is that small actions can have a big impact on a wider scale. Did you know that 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from food waste? Although it may seem like consciously making a small change won’t make much difference, it could help you save approximately €60 a month and noticeably reduce the amount of food you throw away. Sounds like a win-win? Then read on…
We are all living very busy lives, keeping lots of different balls in the air whilst trying to look after our families and keep them happy. Eating, shopping and cooking food are central to our daily lives, so choose one small change that is straightforward and easy for your household to implement and see what happens! #stopfoodwaste #onesmallchange
- Plan your food shop – take five minutes to check what you have in the cupboards, fridge and freezer, write a list and stick to it! This stops you from shopping on autopilot, doubling up on food you already have at home and helps you form the outline of a meal plan for the week ahead.
- Measure your portions by count (e.g. number of potatoes), by weight (e.g. 75g is the recommended portion of pasta for an adult) or by volume (use cups or spoons to make it easy).
- Use clear containers to store any leftovers in your fridge so you can see what you have and then use them up in omelettes, frittatas, curries, soups, stir-frys, sandwiches, salads and tapas.
- Make a ‘Use Next’ shelf in the fridge and check it a couple of times a week to make sure you’re using the food on it and rotating other food onto the shelf as necessary.
- Get creative and cook using only what you have once a week! Before you head out to buy new ingredients, check what fresh ingredients you already have in the fridge that need to be used up. And don’t forget to check what’s in the freezer or store cupboard that can also be included. Save yourself money and a trip to the shop!
- See your bin as the last resort – conscious planning, shopping, storing, freezing, and ultimately using what you buy will reduce your food waste and your grocery bill!
Tell us your top tips for minimising food waste:
Have other tips on how to keep food waste at a minimum this year? We’d love to hear from you! Share your own top tips with the #StopFoodWaste hashtag on social media.
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