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

[Sallyannlloydjones]

Make good use of your freezer...it really does minimise food wastage.

[KittyKat88]

My best tip is always try and use up what you have before buying more. Don't worry about end dates as some things are still good for a few days after them. Also, in summer, store bread in the freezer and take out what you need the day before. Bread always seems to go mouldy in the heat of summer regardless what the sell by date is!

[beeelaine]

I absolutely HATE throwing out food. I feel that its morally wrong when people are starving in this world. The tip I would give is use the FREEZER and only cook what you need - meat can be frozen to be used another day (best to bag up separately in freezer bags). Also chicken/turkey carcass makes the best healthiest stock for gravies/casseroles which can be frozen. If you only cook what you need if you have left over raw veggies in the fridge there are lots of pages on the web on how long you need to blanch in hot water (its different times for different veg) before you freeze and tips on how to do it. When I do this not only does it save the veg, when i get it out of the freezer its already prepped and ready for the pan so great for a lazy day! (freezing fruits its best to freeze on a tray and then bag up when its frozen so it doesnt stick together). Its absolutely amazing if you jot down what you have saved and realise how much money you are saving - I think people dont realise how much it all adds up.

[cazzzie987]

Meal plan and check the dates on food to make sure it gets used in order of expiry. Do not put too much on your plate. Maybe even batch cook for when you are busy, there is a quick meal there.

[lizd31]

When I make a large dish such as lasagne or pasta bake I freeze the leftovers for another meal

[Liquorice13]

Always plan your meals in advance, make a shopping list and only buy what is on your list. Never go shopping when hungry as you will buy chocolate, cakes and biscuits.

[twinklenic]

dont shop when youre hungry , freeze left overs , dont buy too much fresh fruit / veg which will go off

[hiddenmichelle]

To write a careful shopping list and to freeze leftovers!

[tabbaz123]

Make a list - Stick to the List - Remember to take the list with you!! (I am guilty of forgetting it so many times)

[jodiecrossley1]

Freeze anything you don't think you will have chance to eat for a while

[SagaNorensSnowflakeTrousers]

My favourite "no waste" food is making tortilla bowls like this: booowls!

Not that I do it with every meal but I will be passing the trick down to my kids.

[montiefletcher]

make use of your left overs by making another meal out of them, and also buy what you need, have a list to shop

[MillyVanilli222]

Making a list - and sticking to it! It's something I wish I was better at myself though...

[Cambam2010]

Freeze whatever is not needed. I chop up peppers, celery etc and then it is ready to throw into a soup, casserole, bolognaise etc.

Bulk out meat meals with vegetables - I grate carrots and courgettes into bolognaise, chilli, shepherds pie style dishes. This bulks out the amount meaning that you have left overs to freeze and also gets vegetables into fussy eaters.

Don't buy special ingredients for just one meal - if something special is required look for other recipes that use that ingredient and plan meals together.

[southernsun]

We waste a lot less food now we do online shopping as it is easier to judge what we need and not impulse by. This had led to us throwing less food out and saving money. Shop online would be my tip to pass on to them.

[Ladyboluna]

Eat vegetarian several times a week - if you get some good recipe books or ideas online then you'll never miss the lack of meat on your plate.

[poojij4]

save for tomorrow

[kml85]

Plan yur meals, only buy what you are going to use/eat and dont make too much at meal times that leftovers go in the bin

[farhanac]

Constantly tell them to finish what is on their plate before taking more

[sugar1975]

Only use what you need to, don't cook too much :) Freeze left overs too if you need to. When buying items from a supermarket try where possible to use them in multiple ways/dishes. Gives a variety of food then.

[upsydaisyd0nt]

To tub & freeze usable leftovers which are perfect for Omelettes...especially white meats such as chicken which have a very short life.

[finleypop]

I believe the key is just good planning. We tend to shop for fresh food every 2-3 days, so it doesn't get a chance to go bad. If something unplanned stops you from using food you have already bought, then check if it can be frozen.
We don't eat a lot of bread, but like to have some in for toast now & again. Because it is for toast, we put a loaf in the freezer & take out what we want, when we need it, rather than throwing out half a loaf that hasn't been used.

[masterofyou2]

You can make a soup out of almost any leftovers . . . I made a great Turkey soup out of last year's bird

[ggjacks]

shop with a list and stick to it, and freeze any leftovers