One of the easiest ways to reduce food waste is to avoid creating leftovers that could become waste or, be smart and use your leftovers so they don't become waste. This week, are so excited to chat to Kate McHugh, the founder of Seasnal - a fantastic website that shares tips and tricks to take the mental load of how to reduce waste, save money and reduce your environmental footprint.
Here are Kate's top tips to reduce food waste:
1) Have an event plan - whether it's for a family dinner or an event you're planning, take a moment to think about the event and how much food you will actually need.
2) Check what you have on hand - before you start making a meal, have a look at about you already have in the fridge, pantry and freezer. How can you leverage these items rather than purchasing more ingredients?
3) Create a menu using versatile and seasonal ingredients to help manage and upcycle leftovers. There are so many ways you can upcycle foods. Check out this list of the many ways you can use various food items.
4) Understand the portions you need to serve. It can be tricky to know what a portions to serve and getting it wrong can result in waste. This handy portion guide will assist in serving the right amount.
5) Create a shopping list and stick to it. Ever heard the saying "never go shopping hungry" - that's because it's easy to get carried away and purchase items you don't really need, that unfortunately, can often become waste. Before you shop, write a list and stick to it!
Thanks, Kate. Make sure you check out this fantastic resource that includes a food waste tracker - helping you log your leftovers and reminding you to use them before they expire. Check out the Seasnal website here