How well do you plan your meals over the holiday season? How much food is left over?
In New Zealand, the second most wasted food item is leftovers. This is often worse at Christmas when we over-cater family gatherings.
You can avoid wasting food and save time, money and stress with our top three tips:
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Plan your meals in advance. Remember to think carefully about quantities and what will get eaten and won’t.
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Make a list and check it twice. With a meal plan in place, check what ingredients you already have, then make a shopping list and keep to it.
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Store your food properly. You can make fruit and vegetables stay fresher up to ten times longer just by storing it correctly. Visit Love Food Hate Waste NZ for the best way to store a range of foods.
When it comes to leftovers, remember the 2-2-2 rule:
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Put your leftovers in the fridge within 2 hours
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Eat them within 2 days
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They will last in the freezer for at least 2 months.
Remember to cool leftovers before putting them in the fridge. Ensure they are covered or sealed in a container. Don’t reheat leftovers more than once.
Want to make the most of your leftovers but tired of eating the same meal three days in a row? Love Food Hate Waste NZ has many creative and simple ideas on how you can makeover your leftovers. Check out their website for inspiration and practical advice.
Auckland Council is proud to support Love Food Hate Waste NZ, a nationwide movement that highlights the issue of preventable food waste and aims to reduce the amount of edible food thrown out each year.
Every year, Auckland Council supports organisations educating people to make the most of their kai and stop causing food to become waste.
Applications for Auckland Council’s Love Food Hate Waste grants open 1 February 2024 and close on 5 March 2024.
To find out more about applying for a Love Food Hate Waste grant, visit the Auckland Council website and search ‘LFHW’ or click here.
To learn more about food waste prevention visit lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz.
For handy tips on smart storage to fight food waste you can put on your fridge, please see this document.
