Eight tips to waste less food and save up to £60 per month from leftover buffet to FIFO method
THE average person wastes around 70kg of food a year – that’s the equivalent of about 140 meals.
If you can cut back on this, you could save up to £60 per month.
Follow these tips . . .
Use FIFO: This stands for First In First Out.
So use the ingredients bought first, instead of the most recent.
Eat “accordingly”: Put leftovers or whatever is going off into your meal prep.
For example, fruit from breakfast can be popped into the blender to make a smoothie.
Super soups: Use bin-bound veggies to make a soup then bulk it out with canned beans, pasta or protein.
Group your foods: Arrange cupboards to keep similar items together, such as canned fruit or cereal.
Seeing what you have at glance stops you buying duplicates.
Keep short dates at eye level: Put the items going out of date soonest on a dedicated shelf in your cupboard and fridge, so you use them first.
Have a leftover buffet: One night each week, prepare all the leftovers in your cupboards and freezer and then serve as a buffet for everyone to choose from
Use your freezer: Freeze items going out of date to use later.
Eggs, bread, milk, fruit and potatoes can all be frozen.
Understand labels: “Best before” relates to food quality and it’s usually OK to eat food after this.
Don’t eat after a “use by” date as it could be unsafe.
BITE-SIZE BITS FOR THE PICKY
WHETHER you’re feeding fussy eaters or need grub on the go, “Picky Bits” tapas is the new dining trend.
Try these ideas . . .
- Bulk-buy party food when it’s on offer, like sausage rolls. Freeze and use when needed.
- Boost your five-a-day with quick-to-prepare carrot and cucumber sticks.
- Try the ultimate no-cook meal. Antipasti, fresh bread, cheese and vine-ripened tomatoes.
- Scour meal deals like Asda’s Food To Go range for affordable deli-style sarnies and wraps.
- Use what you already have. Crackers, hardboiled eggs and roll-up ham with cheese to make pinwheels.
- Add a sweet treat to finish. Strawberries and chopped grapes are family favourites.