- use a simple meal planner to plan your meals;
- don't plan all 7 days in a week - plan for 5 days without specific days for each meal, so changes can be accommodated. Remember, it’s not only dinner/tea - plan your lunches at the same time. If you’ve never written a meal planner before, use our handy planner
- check what you already have at home and plan what needs eating up first; shop smart
- label foods that need using first so it’s easy to spot what you’ve got
- keep a list of what's in the fridge and cupboards before you go shopping so you don’t over buy. Alternatively take a “shelfie” on your phone so you know what is in the fridge or freezer and cupboards
- buy foods that can be used for several dishes and set aside some time to batch cook for the week so that you have meals that can be put in the fridge or freezer and used for a number of meals
- eating seasonal fruit and vegetables will keep the cost down
- shopping online makes it easier for you to buy only what you want and not get distracted by other foods or special offers in store
- when shopping look for the food with the longest “Use By” dates
- don’t overcook - use a measure to get the right amount of food and ensure you have the right portion sizes. There is a really good meal planner available on the Love Food Hate Waste website
- There’s some great advice on how to create flexible and simple meal plans on the Love Food Hate Waste website.