Love Food Hate Waste’s #FoodWasteActionWeek runs from March 18-24 during the Be Mighty. Recycle campaign, and this year’s theme is ‘choose what you’ll use’, which encourages everyone to buy their fruit and veg loose.
There are some great benefits to buying loose fruit and vegetables! Buying loose reduces food waste – WRAP research has shown that if all apples, bananas and potatoes were sold loose in the UK, we could save a massive 60,000 tonnes of food waste by enabling people to buy closer to their needs.
We’ve seen the return of high waisted jeans, curtain fringes, and many other things, so let’s now help loose fruit and veg make a bit of a comeback – the original and best way to buy our produce.
So, if you’re shopping for tonight’s dinner, find the right jacket potatoes to fit your family. Whipping up an apple crumble? Pick exactly the number of apples you need. Shop this way and you’ll be saving food and plastic from going to waste.
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Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for Environment, said: “We’re supporting Love Food Hate Waste’s Food Waste Action Week campaign and we’re asking our residents to think about the small changes they can make that will help to reduce their food waste. Making the most of the food you buy makes a big difference, and it can help to save you money as well as protect the environment.”
10 tips!
Love Food Hate Waste have come up with 10 things you can try to stop wasted food feeding climate change:
1. It’s a date! ‘Use by’ is about safety – food should not be eaten after this date (even if it looks/smells fine). ‘Best before’ is about quality – although food won’t be at top quality after this date, it will still be safe to eat for some time.
2. Compleat. Always binning crusts and broccoli stems? Over two-thirds of the food we waste is perfectly edible, so using every edible bit of your food (‘compleating’) is essential. Try leaving the skin on when you make mashed potato – this will save you time as well!
3. Chill the fridge out. The average fridge temperature in UK homes is nearly 7°C, but foods will last longer if they are kept at under 5°C.
4. Perfect portions. Hands up who has ever found themselves with far too much rice or pasta? It’s easy to do, but there are simple ways to cook the perfect amount. For example, a mug filled with dry rice will cook enough for four adults.
5. Snap a shelfie. If you’re not a fan of shopping lists, take a picture of your fridge/cupboard shelves before you head to the shops instead. This will stop you from buying something you’ve already got at home.
6. Savvy storage. Most fruit and veg will stay fresher for longer in the fridge. The key exceptions are bananas and pineapple (keep these on the counter), and onions and potatoes (which should be kept in a cool, dark, dry place – like a cupboard!).
7. Freeze up to the ‘use by’ date. All foods with a ‘use by’ date, including meat, can be frozen right up to this date. This is especially helpful if your plans change at the last minute – before you order an emergency takeaway, check your fridge for anything that can be frozen for another day.
8. Ice-cube tray – the freezer hero. Too much milk, not enough time? Pour your remaining milk into ice-cube trays and freeze – this is the perfect amount for a brew. You can use ice-cube trays to freeze fresh herbs, too. Chop them up, pop them in the tray, and top up with oil, and then you have easy portions to add to the pan next time you’re cooking.
9. Use your loaf. Bread is another food that freezes beautifully. Put your sliced loaf in the freezer, and then you can pick out a slice at a time and toast straight from frozen. Extra tip: tap the loaf on the counter before you freeze it to stop the slices sticking together.
10. Unidentified Frozen Objects. Before you freeze your leftovers, label the bag/container telling you what’s inside and when you froze it.
You can visit the Love Food Hate Waste website for delicious recipes and even more suggestions for making the most of your food.
You can also join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #BeMightyRecycle – why not share your favourite food-saving tips?
Be Mighty. Recycle – Let’s get Wales to number 1! – Wrexham Council News
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