How to avoid food waste

Shopping

•When going to do your shopping, big or small always make a list.

o This will focus your shop on what you need, not on what the supermarkets want to sell you.

o A good idea to help to try and plan your meal requirements for the week (breakfast, lunch & dinner), this is also a helpful way of planning your budget.

Buy one get one free?

•Don’t be fooled into buying multi buy offers unless you need those items & can use them.

o Multi buys on fresh products may seem a good saving at the time but if you cannot use them by the use by date then they can be wasted and cost you money.

o Multi buys on tinned products are usually ok as they have a good shelf life.

Check the date

Use by  & Best Before dates

o When buying fresh products (cold cooked meats etc) always check where possible the dates on the packaging, try to always buy the longest date items.

o Never eat produce where the use buy date has been exceeded, this may make you ill.

o Best Before dates are generally a guide, the product will be safe to eat but may have lost some flavour/texture. But do not exceed these dates by too much. Always check the product for signs of mould or other deviations.

Fruit and Veg

Fruit & Veg

o When buying Fruit always go for the freshest possible and use as quickly as possible, this may mean buying smaller quantities but more frequently.

o When buying Vegetable’s you can buy larger quantities if you have a freezer. You can pre-prepare them by slicing/chopping them into smaller portions and freeze them ready for use. They can be cooked directly from Frozen.

o If you do not have a freezer, then like Fruit buy smaller quantities off what you need.

Raw Meats

Raw Meats (Beef, Chicken, Fish etc)

o When buying always buy the longest date possible, if you can use them within your planned meals for the week all the better.

o If you cannot use them within the dates on the packet then freeze immediately.

o Do not use these products after their use by date as you run the risk of illness.