Stop Food Waste With Our Top 5 Hacks

We have put together our top five hacks on how to stop food waste, so you can sleep easier knowing you are doing your bit! And here's the great news it may take an extra few minutes of your day but it will save food, money & time for you in the long run. So let's get saving today!

You may not have realised just how bad food waste is for the environment but we need to work together to try to prevent it. In the UK alone, we waste 14 billion pounds worth of food a year, resulting in 4.5 million tonnes of food that could have been eaten, if we had each just been a little more savvy.

When food is wasted and goes into landfill, it produces methane. When this food rots and degrades it emits harmful gases, which are 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide in relation to trapping heat in the atmosphere and causing global warming. One quarter of man-made greenhouse gases are created by food waste!

1. Write a list

By planning ahead and writing a shopping list, either as you run out of items or as they pop into your head, you will know what you need to buy rather than buying excess of something you already have at home. If you have a list, you know what you need and there is less chance of your food going off. 

We love this Vent For Change Ideas Listpad in Pink, as it is the perfect size for a shopping list. Or, if you are looking for something a little bit bigger, so you can add some extra notes, this Vent For Change Recycled Ides Notepad in Green is ideal! Plus, they are both made from 100% recycled paper - could this be less wasteful?

2. Plan your meals

Why not make a plan of what meals you are going to have that week? Then either use any extra ingredients in your lunch the following day or find a new & exciting recipe that uses up the leftovers the next day. We stock a couple of recipe books, one of our favourites being Great British Vegan by Aimee Ryan. But, you can find recipes everywhere or if you are looking for something even more simple - just chuck all the leftovers together to make a yummy, easy bubble and squeak. 

3. Freeze your leftovers

So you've cooked your dinner, but you have way too much for just one portion. Instead of throwing it away or popping it in the fridge and potentially forgetting about it, why not put that extra portion in the freezer. We think our reusable silicone bags are perfect for this and they have sizes to suit every need! Stasher bags are great for the freezer as they can easily be stacked on top of each other, you can see what's inside, you can write on them and once you are ready to eat it you can just pop the bag straight in the microwave with your food in it. 

Another great way to use your Stasher bags and avoid food waste, is to chop up your fruit and vegetables as soon as you get them home and store them in the freezer. Plus, we think the little reusable silicone bags are perfect for storing your herbs in the fridge or freezer or little pieces of fruit. We cannot shout about them enough - they truly are a game changer!

4. Cover your food

There are some items of food that just don't warrant a container (we get it!) because most of it is still covered by skin, however what can happen is that the end of that item can dry out and can become unusable. So we chop the end off, or worse case scenario we have forgotten to use it and it's dried out completely or gone off. This is where Green Island comes in with our bestselling products for reducing food waste: Silicone Food Huggers and Silicone Stretch Lids.

5. Store your food in see-through containers 

Putting your food in see through jars not only looks great on your shelves (let's be honest!) but it is also very practical and handy. It allows you to see how much you have left so you can quickly check and put on your list; it also reminds you what might be getting close to its sell by date; and most importantly it will tempt you to eat whatever is inside meaning they won't get forgotten and will not end up being wasted!

For more information, hints and tips on food waste and reducing it why not check out our book The Less Waste No Fuss Kitchen by Lindsay Miles.

The Kind Store team try and test all products that we stock, so you can be certain that what you are buying is high quality, works well and loved by us. We source all products using our ethos via our sustainable principles, so you can trust that what you are buying is kind to animals, people and planet. We stock items from UK independent makers and suppliers to ensure our products are eco-friendly. Discover hundreds of vegan, natural, sustainable and cruelty-free products.

          

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