Stop Food Waste Day
How to Stretch Out Your Food and Save
How to Stretch Out Your Food and Save
Did you know that the average Irish household throws out approximately €60 worth of food per month, a significant amount of which is still suitable for consumption?
We’re all looking for ways to make our weekly shop go further, reduce waste, and save money. The good news is, introducing a few simple habits can make a real difference, both for your wallet and for the planet.
If you find these tips helpful, be sure to share them with a friend or family member too!
Here are seven simple tips on how to get the most out of the food you already have at home:
- Plan Before You Shop
A little planning goes a long way. Before heading to the supermarket, check what’s already in your fridge, freezer, and cupboards. Then make a quick weekly meal plan around what you already have.
This helps you:
- Avoid duplicate buys
- Use up ingredients before they go off
- Cut impulse spending
Top Tip: Build meals around similar ingredients. For example, if you buy a bag of peppers, plan to use them in a stir-fry one night and a pasta sauce later in the week.
Free Resource: Check out our Shopping – Stop Food Waste
- Make (and Stick to) a Shopping List
Once you’ve checked what you need, write a list, and stick to it. A list keeps you focused, helps prevent overbuying, and means you’ll actually use what you purchase.
Small step, big impact: A well-planned list can save you money every week and reduce how much food ends up in the bin.
Free Resource: Check out The Shopping List – Stop Food Waste
- Your Fridge Is Your Friend
Your fridge is one of the most powerful tools for preventing food waste. But it only works well if it’s used properly.
Keep it organised and make sure it’s set to the right temperature (4°C is optimum). Store items in the right place: dairy on the top shelf, cooked food in the middle, raw meat and fish on the bottom, and fruit and vegetables in drawers.
Top Tip: Check the temperature of your fridge today! Click here to find out how.
- Organise Your Freezer
A well-organised freezer can save you time, money, and stress. Freeze leftovers, portion meals, and label everything clearly so you know what’s there.
✅ Organise it
✅ Label it
✅ Pop it in the freezer
✅ Use it up
Top Tip: Did you know – bread is one of the food items wasted most by Irish households? In fact, recent EPA research shows that 41% of people said bread was the food they threw out most often.
Free Resource: Check out our A-Z Guide of Food Storage.
- Try Eating “Free” for a Week
Think your freezer is full of nothing to eat? Think again it’s full of free meals waiting to be discovered.
Challenge yourself to eat only from your freezer for a week. Use up forgotten leftovers, soups, or sauces. You’ll clear space, save money, and prevent good food from going to waste.
Take our challenge and let us know how much you saved!
- Store Vegetables the Right Way
Fresh vegetables are often the first to go to waste. Spend ten minutes now to save money later. Check our vegetable storage guide to learn how to keep produce fresher for longer.
Simple habits like removing plastic packaging, using breathable bags, or storing root veg in a cool, dark place can make a big difference.
Free Resource: Check out our vegetable-focused A-Z of Foods – Stop Food Waste
- Keep the Basics on Hand
Stock your cupboards with long-lasting staples like rice, pasta, tinned tomatoes, pulses, and seasonings. These can turn leftovers into quick, easy meals helping you stretch your food further and save more.
Top Tip: Choose recipes that use some of the same ingredients in more than one meal – this will save you money and makes sure food gets used up.
Free Resource: Find out how to measure your food waste with our handy guide.
Small Habits, Big Results
Every small step adds up. Planning, freezing, and using what you already have can help the average household save up to €700 a year.
Less waste means more savings for you and for the planet.
👉 Bookmark our website StopFoodWaste.ie for more simple ways to make your food (and your budget) go further and follow us on social media for weekly tips.
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.