Simple ways to reduce food waste

A quick meal plan or shopping list can help you buy only what you need.

Before you go to the supermarket:

• check your fridge, freezer and cupboards
• avoid buying duplicates
• think about how many portions you need for each meal.

Storing food in the right place helps it last longer and stay safe to eat. For example:

• apples – keep in the fridge
• potatoes – keep in a cool, dark cupboard
• bread – keep in its bag with the air squeezed out.

Check food labels to see if something should be kept in the fridge or freezer. If you’re not going to use something straight away, chill or freeze it to stop it going off.

Freezing extends shelf life and helps you save money.

Most foods can be frozen, including:

• meat
• cooked meals
• bread
• leftovers.

You can also freeze small amounts of leftover ingredients, such as:

• sauces
• tomato purée
• pesto
• creamed coconut.

Top tip! Freeze in ice cube trays so you can use just what you need later.

Only cook what you need.

Check packets or recipes for recommended portion sizes - this can help prevent cooking more than you’ll eat.

For healthy portion guidance, the NHS Eatwell Guide shows how much of each food group we should eat for a balanced diet:

The Eatwell Guide - NHS website

Use By - this is for safety. Don’t eat food after this date.
Best Before - this is for quality. Food may still be safe after this date if it looks, smells and tastes fine.

Understanding date labels helps you avoid throwing away food that’s still good to eat.