Producing food involves water usage, electricity, transport and much more. When we throw away food, we don’t only discard it, but we also waste all the resources used previously to make that food.
Suggestions to reduce food waste in your home.

• Plan your meals and write shopping list. This great habit that will save you time and money.
• Pick “ugly” fruit and vegetables: Choose from the “odd bunch’’ or the “reject fruit and veg” area at your local shop.
• Freeze your black bananas and other fruits for smoothies (take the skin off first!), and stew your soft apples with cinnamon to make a delicious apple sauce.
• Rotate the food in your fridge, freezer and pantry so the older items are at the front and are used first.
• Remember “Best Before” dates indicate the food may not be at its best. It does not mean it is unsafe to eat. I learnt this one when living on Christmas Island. Lots of food such as pasta will have a best before but it was perfectly fine beyond that date.
• Freeze left-overs or have them for lunch the next day. ( This is my number one)
• Compost your food waste or feed them to chickens.
• If you have the time cook your own food from scratch. This will produce less waste and certainly less packaging. The other benefit is you will know exactly what is in the food.
• If you buy food from local producers there will be substantially less energy wasted in its packaging and transport.