How to reduce food waste

In the UK we waste around 10 million tonnes of food each year (data from WRAP, Waste and Resources Action Programme). 71% of this is from domestic households, so we can each take steps to make a real difference if we are willing to make a few changes.

One of the most important changes we can make is to only buy and cook what we need.  If you watch Nigel Slater’s cooking programme, he starts by looking to see what is left in his fridge before heading to the shops.

1. Choose a day to do your shopping
2. Plan what meals you intend to cook during the week, check what you have in stock and then head to the shops with a prepared list and stick to it. This will ensure that you don’t buy things just in case, reduce your grocery bill and avoid fresh goods being wasted.
3. Check out BBC Good Food online, they have a section of recipes for using up left-over food.
4. Keep a good stock of non- perishable food stock. Tinned and dried food store for much longer and are just as nutritious. Don’t forget to rotate your stored food and keep shorter date items near the front of your cupboards.
5. Frozen fruit and vegetables are just a nutritious as fresh, but they have the advantage that they are ready prepared, and it is easy to use what you need and return the rest to the freezer. Supermarkets choose the pack sizes of fresh fruit and vegetables, not the customer making catering for single people and small families difficult.  Whilst it is good to compost left over vegetables it is better not to buy more than you need in the first place.
6. Think about where you shop. Supermarkets use a huge amount of single use plastic to increase the shelf life and protect the food they sell. Consider shopping in local markets and independent shops, and you will be amazed a how little plastic you actually purchase. You will also find that you don’t reach for those special offers of highly processed that can have a detrimental effect on you and your families health.
7. Following some of the tips above may well surprise you as you eat more healthily and save money, whist doing your bit for the planet.

Try the following shopping methods if you have time

Use the local market to purchase fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, bread, and some dairy goods. It is held on Wednesday/ Saturday in Oakham and Fridays in Uppingham each week.

The farmer’s market is held in Oakham on the third Saturday of each month.

Go to local producers for meat and vegetables, for example

Farmer Lou https://www.farmerlou.co.uk/

The Veg Shed www.theploughgreetham.co.uk/the-veg-shed-the-plough-pub-takeaway-greetham-rutland

Northfields Farm https://www.northfieldfarm.com/visit-our-farm-shop/

Whissendine Windmill for fresh milled flour https://www.whissendine.net/whissendine-windmill/

Get your milk, dairy goods and eggs delivered from The Dairy Barnt https://ferneleysicecream.co.uk/

Your glass bottles will be recycled.

Visit local bakers for bread and cakes eg – www.hambletonbakery.co.uk.

Rutland Refill Community Shop www.rutland-refill.co.uk for buying package free dried goods.

MORE TIPS CAN BE FOUND AT – https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/