In most households, we tend to throw out a lot of food that we don’t use. This organic matter then makes its way into landfills where it creates methane gas, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. But there are ways that you can cut down on the amount of food you waste, and ultimately save on the amount of money you spend.

Why is there so much food wastage?

The are three overall things that contribute to this food wastage – abundance, appearance and cost. Depending on where you live, the cost of food in some countries leads to people not knowing how truly valuable food is because it’s so cheap.

When it comes to looks, that tomato or carrot needs to be perfect in shape, size and colour. Anything else that’s not “pretty” we tend to throw out or not buy at the supermarket. We also tend to buy more food then we need, causing us to throw out things that have gone bad because we didn’t get to use them. So how can you cut down on your food waste?

You can start by shopping realistically

When you go out shopping, make sure that you don’t buy too much food. This can mean spending more time at the supermarket, buying less food every time. So plan your meals ahead of time and make a detailed shopping list. But make sure that you stick to it and aren’t tempted to buy extra things. It can seem difficult at first, but the more you plan it the better it will be.

Store your food properly

When you’re unpacking your food after a shopping trip, make sure it’s stored properly. So read the label on each food item so you know what the perfect storage place is for each food. This way it won’t go bad as quick because of incorrect storage. When unpacking groceries in the fridge, make sure to use the first in, first out method. This is where you bring the older products to the front and put the new ones at the back. So you can use the older ones before they go bad.

Don’t load your plate with food

When it’s finally time to eat, you should make sure that your portions are correctly sized so that there is nothing left behind. If you struggle with this, then maybe get yourself some smaller plates to make it seem like you’re eating more than you are.

Eat your leftovers

If you do find that there is actually food left over, you should plan to eat it during the week. Make labels for each Tupperware so that you know exactly how long it has been in the fridge. Then take it with you so that you can eat it for lunch at work or save it for a night where you’ll be too tired to cook. Just make sure that you aren’t throwing things out that are still perfectly fine to eat.

By adopting some new ways of doing your shopping and cooking your food you can drastically reduce the amount of food that you waste. So if you really want to reduce your food wastage, make sure to follow this tips.