Did you know that the food wasted in the USA and Europe alone could feed the world three times over? It’s a shocking figure, isn’t it? In the UK alone we waste 10 million tonnes of food a year. Not only is this wasteful but it’s bad for the environment and our pockets. What is even more shocking, is that 71% of food waste comes from households and is entirely preventable with the right planning.
A lot of people throw out their food as soon as it hits the BBE date or if they have cooked way too much. It’s no secret that if we shop smarter and cook the correct amount, we will reduce wastage and save money. Grundig, who is a brand of German heritage, with a 74 year history in consumer electronics, has launched a #RespectFood campaign with Massimo Bottura, which has inspired me to compile a little list to inspire you all to cook and shop a little wiser. In 2013, Grundig launched home appliances in the UK market for the first time. It has a full range of stylish built-in appliances with a five-year guarantee across its product range. From speed ovens that cook food up to 50% faster than a standard oven, A++ energy ratings to help reduce energy and a dishwasher that washes a full load in under an hour and has an Inverter eco motor – quieter, more energy efficient and comes with a 10-year parts guarantee.
Check the dates on the packaging before you buy
It may seem like a simple one, but simply just by checking the best before end date on the food packaging before you buy, it can make a huge difference. Often, longer dates can be found at the back of the shelf and you can get an extra few days out of the food.
Plan your meals and shopping in advance
Ensuring that the food you buy can be made into a meal, or a snack is important. Don’t just buy an ingredient for the sake of it. Take 20 minutes to plan your meals for the week and sort out what you know you’ll use. Don’t go food shopping when you’re hungry as you’ll end up buying more than necessary and ultimately end up with more wastage. It’s easy to pop to the shop during the week for a top up if needed rather than buying lots in bulk. The way you store your food in your fridge freezer is also so important, make sure it’s organised properly so you can see everything you have. Grundig’s fridges have advanced cooling technologies you can keep food for longer resulting in less waste!
Ensure you are cooking the right amount of food
It’s easy to just throw everything in a pan and not worry about portion size. If there’s only two of you, don’t cook a meal meant for a family of 5 unless you know you’ll use the leftovers! I dread to think of the amount of pasta and rice I’ve wasted over the years due to cooking too much. Use the recommended portion sizes on the packaging to get a gage of how much you should be cooking.
Get creative with leftovers
One way that is super easy to reduce food waste is to use your leftovers wisely. Freezing them is a great way but you can also turn them into something else! One thing I love to do is cook up a batch of bolognese and then easily turn it into chilli con carne by adding some kidney beans and chilli mix! Super simple and less effort than making it from scratch, too! There are so many recipes on the internet for leftovers. Take a look here for some great recipes.
Plan for meals out & takeaways
You know how it is, you’ve had a busy day at work, can’t be bothered to cook or you fancy a meal out. That’s fine! Just keep that in mind when you’re doing your food shop. Try and save your meals out for when you’re due to buy some more food, so you’re not wasting good food by eating out as soon as you’ve bought it.
*This is a paid partnership with Grundig*
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