We all like to eat well at this time of year, but we need to watch our waste. If you don’t want to scrimp on festive feasting, here are some tips for a waste free Christmas that won’t have you feeling like Scrooge!>
Quality not quantity
Decadence is a big part of Christmas, but sometimes less is more. Avoiding the temptation of buying too much means you can indulge in better quality items. This great BBC portion planner covers all sorts of foods and tells you how much you need to cook. If you do buy too much, fruit and veg can be preserved in pickles, jams and chutneys. These make great gifts too!Love your leftovers
Don’t throw leftovers away. Use them in recipes like these ones for Brussels and squeak or stuffed Christmas squash. You can freeze portions and have plenty of delicious “home-made ready meals” to last well into the new year.Check the chain
It’s worth thinking about the waste that happens before food gets to your table. WRAP* estimates that 1.9 million tonnes of food is wasted in the UK supply chain every year. Check how your suppliers handle their surplus or spoiled produce. There are lots of fantastic projects, like Fareshare, working to redistribute surplus food to people in need.Season’s eatings
Big international supply chains can create a lot of waste. The more stops your sprouts make, the more opportunities there are for them to spoil. Vegetable box schemes and farmer’s markets provide a convenient source of locally produced food. By supporting your local producers you’ll be cutting down on food miles and avoiding wasteful practices.*WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) is a not for profit organisation that works with governments, businesses and communities to deliver practical solutions to improve resource efficiency.
