Food waste is a major problem for British households trying to budget. Buying a loaf of bread only to find its gone mouldy or letting yoghurts go off in the fridge can all add up and on average each adult bins £405 worth of food each year.
The worst part about this figure is that two thirds of Brits are buying food knowing it will end up in the bin, particularly if it’s vegetables or salad items. With the cost of living crisis and everyone looking for ways to save, being more organised when buying food could save you hundreds over the year.
More than £21 billion worth of food is thrown away by British households every year, according to a new study from cracker brand Jacob’s. That is 13% of all the food they buy.
So with pressures ranging from overbuying to get deals on larger packaged items thorough to picky kids changing their mind after asking for food, it can be hard to see how to cut waste and make the most of your budget.
Now, to inspire Brits to be more resourceful with their food, Jacob’s has teamed up with Olympic champion, Greg Rutherford, his partner Susie Verrill and sustainable chef Martyn Odell. The brand is also be partnering with food waste charity FareShare, the UK’s largest charity fighting food waste and hunger, to donate 40,000 meals over the next year to support the charity’s network of nearly 9,500 charities and community organisations across the UK.
Meanwhile, to help cut the waste in our homes the firm has pulled together its top tips. This is what they recommend.
Don't buy more than you need
Research found that almost a third of us feel “forced” to buy items or larger packets of food than needed. Supermarkets often place big discounts on multibuy items, which aids bigger households but results in those who live alone splashing out to get a deal and binning what they don't use.
This food sits in our fridges, unused, with 37% of Brits saying they just don’t get around to using the fresh ingredients that they have purchased. The study found nine out of the top 10 items which are thrown away were all fruit and veg, including salad bags, carrots, potatoes and oranges. Cream just made it onto the list at number 10.
This can be avoided by meal planning based on best before dates and only buying the amount of food needed.
A discount is totally negated if you end up throwing half of it away. It may appear better to buy that 1kg pack of chicken rather than the 600g but think about if you will use it all.
Eat up the leftovers
One in five of us don’t bother to eat our leftovers either, which wastes even more food. Leftovers can make a great lunch the next day or be placed in the freezer for those days you just don’t want to cook. Incorporate leftovers into your weekly meal plan and refresh them through a different recipe, rather than leaving them in the fridge unloved.
Make a shopping list
Before you buy the food, make a list and plan your weekly meals to the best of your ability. Meal prepping has become a daunting trend online with colour coordinated boxes stacking up neatly with food ready to go but in reality just deciding what you want to make and on which days could help a lot.
Nearly four in 10 of us don’t bother making a list which means we buy chaotically and on a whim. For masterchefs, buying based on what you fancy is no problem but for the rest of us we’re left with a pineapple and some salad wondering how to make a meal.
By planning you meals and knowing exactly what you need to make it, you can cut down on waste from the start.
Get experimental
Brits are also guilty of trying to eat more environmentally friendly or healthily, only to ditch it for pizza and forget about the fruit until it’s too late. Nearly half of us buy food that is good for the planet, like meat alternatives, only to throw them away because we don’t like them as much.
Rather than throwing these away, try out a new recipe or cooking method. You may find it works better and tastes surprisingly good.
Limit kid's choices
Parents end up wasting more food due to children asking for things then deciding they no longer want it. Three in 10 parents say they waste more food now they have kids with half saying their children change their minds after purchase.
Set out rules with your children and limit what they can ask for at each shopping trip to one or two items. Give them a budget too so they can only choose something up to a cost which suits you, this will control their food waste without taking away the fun of treating them.
