You can't get dessert until you've eaten all your food

You can actually, but…

Healthy eating and making conscious choices surrounding the food we cook are being impacted by the growing issue of food waste. A recent news article has reported that food waste has become a serious concern in Australia with 7.6 million tonnes of food being lost and/or wasted each year. As a result, both the economy and the environment have experienced negative consequences. Food waste is costing the Australian economy billions of dollars each year which is equivalent to up to $2500 per household and with 92% of food waste ending up directly in landfill, it has become responsible for 3% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, with 37% of edible food disposed of being health ingredients like vegetables, food waste poses a serious threat to healthy eating and cooking.

Practical ways to reduce food waste

So, what can we do around our kitchens to minimise the impact of food waste?

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Look at the food you already have in your fridge, pantry, and freezer and get creative with what you already have in your kitchen. While taking inventory, keep an eye out for best before and use-by dates on your food. A lack of understanding between these two labels has been reported as contributing to the issue of food waste in Australia.

Best before vs use-by

If you are unsure of the difference: best before dates refer to food products being at their best on the specific date given – it can still be consumed afterwards! – whereas use-by dates act as a guide for when food products should be consumed by. For health and safety reasons, food products should NOT be consumed after their use-by date.

Think before you buy

Come up with a meal plan! Meal planning is a really helpful tool when it comes to healthy eating and conscious cooking. Not only does it help to save money (as mentioned in my previous post), but it can also make your grocery shopping experiences less overwhelming. If you’re anything like me chances are that there’s been the occasional Woolies or Coles trip that has ended up with your basket filled to the brim with products that have been swooped in on a whim. Having a list and an idea of what you’ll be cooking throughout the week mitigates the risk of buying too much. Buying only what you know you need helps to stop food waste.

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Get cooking! Have fun with the food products that you already have in your kitchen by getting creative and experimenting with different flavours. If you’re struggling to come up with any ideas and need some inspiration, Oz Harvest – an organisation fighting food waste – has a range of recipes that you can find here. Sometimes your ingredients won’t look perfect when you go to use them. Try not to be deterred – bruised fruit and weirdly shaped vegetables taste the exact same as non-bruised fruit and normal shaped vegetables.

Got leftovers?

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Before cooking, plan ahead and make sure you know who you’ll be cooking for and adjust accordingly. For me, this looks like halving a recipe that is designed to serve two if I’ll be the only one devouring the dish I’m making. This helps to avoid cooking too much and letting food go to waste. If you do end up with leftovers – because, let’s be honest, on days when it seems like we’re constantly hungry, our eyes can be bigger than our stomach – don’t throw them away! Instead, consider having your leftovers for lunch the next day or freezing them to enjoy later.

Food waste has been highlighted as a serious issue that is impacting our economy and environment. All hope is not lost, however, as we can all take steps in the right direction to minimise food waste in our homes.

What are some steps that you will be taking to reduce food waste? Let me know in the comments below.