For loads of top tips to reduce the amount of food that gets thrown away, visit the Love Food Hate Waste website.
Here are just a few tips to help you reduce food waste from your household:
Date labels
Food can be eaten or frozen right up to the end of this date. Follow storage instructions on packs. 'Use by' dates are usually found on chilled products such as meat, soft cheeses and dairy-based desserts.
These dates refer to quality rather than food safety. Foods with a 'best before' date should be safe to eat after the 'best before' date, but they may no longer be at their best. One exception is eggs - never eat eggs after the 'best before' date. 'Best before' dates are usually found on items with long shelf lives such as frozen, tinned or dried foods, and pre-packed fruit and vegetables.
Display Until and Sell By
You can ignore these dates as they are for shop staff not for shoppers!
Perfect portions
Mug
A mug is handy for measuring uncooked rice.
4 adults = Full mug, 300ml
2 adults = Half a mug, 150ml
Tablespoon
Ideal for measuring child portions.
Use 2.5 tablespoons for rice, beans or dried fruit.
Scales
Kitchen scales are great for measuring exact portions.
Spaghetti measurer
Stand bundles of uncooked spaghetti on our handy measurer to get perfect portions.
The portion calculator at lovefoodhatewaste.com removes the guesswork when it comes to portions, helping you cook and serve the right amount.
Remember to recycle or home compost all that food waste you cannot avoid (like tea bags, egg shells or banana peelings).
