The average New Zealand household wastes $1,500 worth of food each year—that’s the equivalent of three full shopping trolleys of groceries!
Meal planning is one of the most effective ways to cut down on food waste and 80 per cent of us say we plan meals in advance. But judging by the amount of food wasted, it seems we might be planning to waste it instead.
With four simple steps, you can plan your meals for the week ahead to make the most of your food, reduce waste and save money and time.
Before heading to the shops, follow the four C’s for better meal planning:
-
Check your week
-
Check what you’ve got
-
Choose your meals
-
Create your list
Check your week – who is home on which days? What days will you be too busy or too tired to cook?
Check what you’ve got - see what needs using up in your fridge, freezer and pantry.
Choose your meals - plan easy, flexible meals. Remember to use your leftovers.
Create your list – and remember to take it with you when you go shopping.
By adopting these steps, you’ll have a plan that saves money, cuts waste and keeps meal times stress-free.
Photo credit: WasteMINZ
During March, Love Food Hate Waste NZ is running a nationwide campaign to teach New Zealanders how to save money and save food using the better meal planning checklist.
To help you choose your meals, the Easy Choice – Family Kai cookbooks by Love Food Hate Waste NZ feature healthy seasonal meal plans and budget-friendly recipes for families designed to create zero food waste. These cookbooks help families shop for, cook and eat nourishing and affordable food. There are versions available for all four seasons and they come with great advice on meal planning, storing food so it lasts, and shopping on a budget.
Go to the Love Food Hate Waste website for the Autumn Easy Choice Family Kai Cookbook or download the Meal Planner to print. You will also find many more helpful resources and guides for reducing food waste, including creative ways to use leftovers.
Keeping Auckland’s food scraps out of landfill
Prior to Auckland’s food scraps bins collection service, food waste made up 45 per cent of the weight of an average Auckland household’s rubbish bag or bin. Of this, waste audits have shown that a significant proportion could have been avoided in the first place or eaten.
To reduce food waste going to landfill, where it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, Auckland Council supports Love Food Hate Waste to prevent waste at its source, supports food rescue initiatives to redistribute surplus food, and promotes home and community composting through the Compost Collective.
Any remaining food scraps are then collected through Auckland Council’s kerbside food scraps collection service and converted to energy. Because every little bit helps!
