Which tip would you pass on to your children to minimise food wastage? Tell Love Food Hate Waste for a chance to win £225 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

WRAP and its Love Food Hate Waste campaign, have asked us to find out what tips Mumsnetters have received and what tips Mumsnetters would pass on to help minimise food waste.

Here’s what WRAP say, “Love Food Hate Waste has carried out new research confirming that confidence and skills in the kitchen help everyone waste less food – in fact the average family can save £700 a year in the UK not buying and then throwing away good food and drink. We want to know what one thing you were passed on by your family which has helped you to make the most of your food and what’s the one thing you’d like to pass on to others or to your children for the future?”

So, what’s the best tip you’ve ever received? And likewise, what would you pass on to your children to help them minimise food and drink waste in the future? Perhaps you make meal plans at the start of the week so that you don’t buy any unnecessary food? Maybe you designate one meal each week to use up all the scraps in your fridge? Or maybe you’ve been taught how to save that burnt sauce or have a great way to get the family involved so that no food goes to waste? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Mumsnetters also got involved in a survey for WRAP, you can view the results here.

Everyone who leaves their comment on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £225 voucher to a supermarket of your choice.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

[Jux]

I always used to meal plan, until I got married. Then dh refused to cooperate with it "what if I don't want sausages/chops/whatever on Monday?" so another good tip is to hitch yourself with someone who will be happy to cook/eat/prep whatever is on the menu that day.

[campocaro]

We have one main meal a day and I always cook alittle bit more so that the leftovers can be recycled for teen snacks and soups.

[imalostcause]

I try to meal plan, although don't always manage it, but I throw very little away. I freeze left overs for another day, use veg that's getting a bit old to make a big pot of veg soup that I also freeze in portions. I would pass on my recipe for veg soup to my children - I wish someone had told me how easy it is to make soup a long time ago!

[thewomaninwhite]

Meal planning and also not shopping when hungry!

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

Plan meals religiously. Decide what you are going to have each day before you go shopping and only buy the ingredients to make those things. When you do cook, if you have anything left over, freeze into individual portions to have on another day.

[ImGoingForATwix]

Simple. Plan all meals and buy what you need accordingly.

[Tanaqui]

Lots of the above but especially:

1. meal plan
   
   
2. don't shop when hungry
   
   
3. use the freezer for spare bogofs, leftovers, batch cooking
   
   
4. don't buy things you don't want to eat- just because they are healthy/ cheap/ on offer! You won't eat them.

[margaritasbythesea]

I use the two vegetable holders at the bottom of my fridge to help with this. New veg goes into the one furthest away from me and older stuff in the one nearest me. It sounds stupid but I swear it saves waste.

[fasterkillpussycat]

Never shop when you are hungry because you will end up with things that you don't need! Planning meals ahead of time and shopping online helps me cut down on waste.

[polly164]

Learn how to cook from scratch and dont be afraid to experiment - have fun with food!!!

[Hopezibah]

My top tip is to make use of EVERYTHING - For example I buy unwaxed lemons and any leftover ones, I zest and freeze the zest, use the juice to make lemon drizzle cake or cut the whole thing into slices and freeze to use instead of ice cubes in drinks. No part of it goes to waste.

The freezer is my best friend as pretty much everything can be frozen - even things like egg whites leftover from baking can then be frozen to make meringues or pavlova another day. Wine gets frozen into ice cubes to use in cooking. Cheese gets grated and put in the freezer.

There is no excuse to waste food - just make use of it in other ways and freeze any leftovers.

[Princessxo]

Best tip from me is: if there is food left and you can freeze it then freeze it and then have the leftovers for another day.

[flamingtoaster]

Even fruit and veg can be frozen if they are getting past their best. They can be used in soups, stews, smoothies etc. Also ask people how much they want put on their plate - appetite can vary from day to day depending on activity level.

[Cherryjellybean]

Meal plan anc be realistic about how much everyone will eat, so not putting more than you will realisticly eat in a week in your trolly and not putting too much on your plate. Freeze left overs straight away, and use them.

[mrscumberbatch]

I'd tell Dd to forgo the 'big food shop'.

We bulk buy dry goods with long sell by dates but for fresh food we buy only what we need for the next couple of days. Saves a lot of money.

I'd also like to teach her to cook, it's easier not to be wasteful when you have an arsenal of recipes at hand.

[nigelh66]

Don't over stock.If you keep minimal stocks of food you find you use things up through necessity rather than push things to the back of the fridge/freezer/cupboards until they have gone off and need throwing out.

[prwilson]

A joint at the weekend can be made into 3 or 4 meals during the week.

[Chell53]

Try to use leftovers, put things in tupperware tubs, google recipes for using leftover food.

[callkiki]

I would pass on the same as my parents told me. It's better to go back for more if you are still hungry than taking too much at first and making yourself ill trying to eat it all.

[plastigffantastig]

Eat before you go food shopping - if you're hungry you're more likely to buy extra stuff you don't really need.

[lorna1104]

to always check to see if it freezable and try and go shopping end of the day to get reduced and use them items to make meals and measure the amount needed per person x

[bringans]

the freezer is your friend :), and left overs can always be another meal in the bank :)

[janeyf1]

Use a small plate so as not to pile on more than you need and to chew slowly to avoid stomach pains.

[AllSorted]

Meal plan. Freeze leftovers

[rodders470]

Re-use your leftovers. They usually make a good stew.