What is food waste?
Food waste is the parts of food that are thrown away that could have been eaten. This can be raw, uncooked, food that is typically thrown away (like pumpkin skin or broccoli stalk) or leftovers from a meal (the pasta that was left in your bowl after dinner that is thrown away).
Why is it important to avoid food waste as much as we can?
Reducing food waste can save you money! On average, Australians throw 1 in 5 shopping bags of food in the bin - that’s about $3800 worth of groceries per household each year (Food Bank Australia)
Food waste harms our environment. Less food waste means less pollution in our air from rotting food in landfill
Save energy and resources for our future generations. When we waste food, we also waste the natural resources that go into making it, like land, water, and energy
Tips to avoid food waste in your home
Tip #1 - Use the whole vegetable
Roast pumpkin with the skin on (this can be eaten!)
Chop up the stalk of broccoli to use in curries, stir-fry, pasta, etc
Roast cauliflower leaves to add to a salad or eat on the side of your meal
Tip #2 - Plan your meals for the week
Only buy the amount of fresh food that you need until your next grocery shop
If you choose one recipe that uses half a head of cauliflower, choose another recipe for that week that also uses half a head of cauliflower
Tip #3 - Use the fresh food in your fridge from most spoiled to least spoiled
Identify which foods expire or end up in your bin at home
For example - food like bok choy, basil, spinach, okra, chard will need to be eaten quickly as they spoil fast
Foods that last a while include: Potatoes, carrots, parsnips, pumpkin, onions, ginger, lemons
"Freeze left overs! Meals that freeze well: stews, curries, burgers, pasta bakes, and pies"
Tip #4 - Try growing your own vegetables
Easy vegetables to grow in pots are: tomatoes, lettuce, bok choy, etc
Tip #5 - Get creative with leftovers
Use leftover roast veg to make pasta or salad
Use leftover burgers, fried rice, etc in a wrap for lunch
Tip #6 - Use what you have
Make breadcrumbs or croutons out of old bread
Pickle excess vegetables like cabbage, carrot, and cucumber
Soft fruit can be added to smoothies or stewed to eat for breakfast
Put less food on your plate for mealtimes (you can always go back for seconds!)
Tip #7 - Freeze leftovers!
Meals that freeze well: stews, curries, burgers, pasta bakes, pies, etc
Take your meal out of the freezer the morning or night before you want to eat it. Heat up in the microwave or stovetop. Can be heated up straight from the freezer.
Wrap and label items you put in your freezer
Tip #8 - Store food well
Use airtight containers in your cupboards and fridge to keep food fresher for longer
Check that your fridge is set at a temperature between 1 and 5 degrees
Keep food that is likely to go rotten sooner at the front
Store ripe fruit and veg in the fridge
Store potatoes and onions in a cool, dark place
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