New research has found that meat, bread and cheese are among the items most likely to end up in the bin – and food waste is costing many of us more than $900 a year.
The largest investigation in Australia so far into the how, why and what of food waste suggests that on average, we’re wasting $18.55 worth of food per person, per week. The study, part of , took a three-level look at waste, including a national survey, a detailed waste diary and a physical bin audit.
Results of the 2021 study, by the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (FFW CRC) study found that most people don’t believe they personally waste a lot of food – but comparisons of the bin audits and surveys and dairies show many of us significantly underestimate how much we waste. For others, the desire to cut waste is there, but time pressures, budget or lack of food knowledge gets in the way. (Find out more about the report findings )
So what can we do? Here are some tips, and recipes, to help you cut your waste.
The 'shelfie'
One of the CRC's tips for reducing waste is to check what you have in the fridge, freezer and cupboards before you go shopping - and take a 'shelfie', so you can double-check what you've got while you are out shopping.
No-waste gatherings
Professor David Pearson, the co-author of the study, tells SBS his key suggestion for people is to eat what you buy. "How? Plan your meals, check your fridge, create a shopping list (and stick to it!), store food by putting 'needs to be eaten first' at the front, and finally, keep leftovers for an easy meal the next day. And if you are hosting an activity which includes food make it a ‘no food waste event’ by having clip lock plastic bags for people to take home any uneaten foods."
Recipes to use things up
While the items most likely to be wasted vary a little between the three avenues of research, bread, meat, fruit and veg and dairy (mostly likely cheese) appear again and again. Here are some of our favourite ways to use those up.
Bread becomes breakfast and many other things, too.
Many ways with fruit and vegetable scraps
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Quick kitchen-scrap pickle
Meat into meals
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Adrian’s meat scone roll
Cheesy ideas
Find out more about the Fight Food Waste CRC . Get more ideas for using things up in our collection.
More ways to use it all
14 ways to turn leftovers into brilliant brekkies
