We have talked to a lot of people this week about our Food Waste Challenge, and often they are frustrated by the amount of food they throw away themselves, and shocked when they hear how much is wasted further up the supply chain. We all want to reduce food waste, and to see change for the better, but it can feel overwhelming.
So here are our simple tips that can help reduce food waste - so YOU can all be part of this positive change. It turns out reducing food waste can be fun!
Play Fridge Roulette
Once a week pick out items at risk of going off and see what you can create. Right now in my parent's fridge there's half a leftover packet of tomato sauce, a lost chilli, some forlorn looking mushrooms, a stray bean, and one lonely carrot. All you need is some pasta, and boom - you've got a super easy meal. And you've saved your self some money too. Sushi, stirfries, soups - there's so many ways you can use up random ingredients, and you can have fun experimenting with weird combinations!
Visit Love Food Hate Waste
This website is packed with tips and resources to help you reduce food waste in your home. A handy portion planner will help you know how much to buy, and their recipe section is ideal for ideas on how to use a leftover ingredient. Simply type in an ingredient, and be inspired to try something new!
Enjoy a free meal with FoodCycle
Take your friends and meet some new ones at one of FoodCycle community meals across the country. Be wowed by the creations of the volunteers, who transform supermarket surplus into amazing food waste feasts. They are also really good about catering for all diets. Every time we go there's excellent vegan food, like this delicious roast squash salad with battered mushrooms and garlic bread.
Go Gleaning
Get your harvesting hat on and be a farmer for the day. Feedback runs Gleaning days to rescue fruit and vegetables leftover in field and orchards. You are guaranteed a fun community day out. And you can feel extra good knowing that you are helping rescue food which will support vulnerable people. Sign up to find out about upcoming Gleaning opportunities near you.
Get some groceries at a surplus food initiative
Projects that redistribute surplus food from supermarkets are taking root across the country. There's Pay As You Feel Sharehouses in Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham, a Network of Community Fridges, and enterprises like the Best Before Cafe in Letchworth. Most projects operate on a donation basis, so you can use the money you save to treat yourself to something fun!
Uschi says
Also, ich nehme oft Gemüsereste (Zucchini, Karotten, Gurken, Salat, Spinat ...= , die nicht mehr so knackig ausschauen, und schmeiß alles mit einem Stück Banane und Apfel oder sonstigem Obst(rest) in den Smoothie-Maker. Ein bisschen Zitrone dazu und Agaven-Sirup oder so, 1 minute mixen und dann in den Kühlschrank. Der erfrischende und gesunde Power-Mittagsfertig ist mein gesunder Mittags-Drink. Und ich muss nicht mehr Essen wegschmeißen! 🙂 (bitte um Profi-Übersetzung)