Eco stories

Eco stories

Waste not, want not

M a k e t h e m o s t o f w h a t y o u b u y w i t h t h e s e h a n d y t i p s

When it comes to leftovers, many of us think of wilted lettuce or stale bread that needs throwing away. But what if using the contents of your cupboards could liven up meals and reduce the amount of food we waste? With the cost of living rising and the average family throwing away £700-£800 of food per year* , buying less and using up more can be an easy way to save some pennies.

That’s why Tesco has created a new website for helping reduce food waste: tes.co/foodwaste, focusing on everything from meal planning to fridge hacks. There are plenty of tools, tips and tricks to help you use up what you’ve got, so you can gain confidence with your leftovers and cut down on food waste. Here are just a few ideas.

USE IT

Choose one day each week to be your ‘use up’ day, when you finish whatever’s left in your fridge, freezer and cupboards before your next big shop. Pull anything you haven’t used up to the front, so you don’t forget about it.

COOK IT

Turn a random assortment of ingredients that need using up into a gourmet meal with the What can I make with…? tool (tes.co/recipefinder). Forage in your fridge for at least three items you want to use up, add them into the search box and get a host of recipe suggestions.

RE VIVE IT

Learn how to give leftovers a new lease of life, as well as how to store them to make them last longer, in Tesco’s leftovers hub (tes.co/ leftovers). For tips on storing and using up cucumber, turn to p78.

PL AN IT

If you find you always buy more than you need, try a 5 for under £25 meal plan (see p36). This is a great wallet-friendly option, where food from a single shop gets used across the week.

FREEZE IT

You’ll be surprised at the things you can freeze – grated cheese, garlic… even eggs. Crack an egg into a bowl, beat it, pour it into a muffin tin hole and add a sprinkle of salt, then pop in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer it into a freezer bag. Thaw before using, then fry or scramble. Look out for the blue snowflake symbol throughout the magazine for great freezer-friendly recipes.

DONATE IT

We all have tins of fruit, fish or vegetables hiding at the back of our cupboards. If you’re not going to use them, give them away. Tesco is partnered with Fareshare and The Trussell Trust to donate leftover long-life food to communities who need it most – look out for the collection points in stores.

tonnes of greenhouse gas 25M emissions in the UK come from food waste**

GIVE ME MORE!

Get more great tips on how to cut down on food waste at home at tes.co/ reducefoodwaste.