Life Hack: Four easy ways to reduce food waste and save hundreds of meals each year

If just 10 households reduced their food waste by 25%, it could save around 650 meals each year.

The nation wastes more than one million meals every single day. Picture: iStock

How much food waste do you think you generate each year? It’s likely more than you’d guess.

Environmental Protection Agency figures published earlier this year, show the massive scale of Ireland’s food waste problem. Irish households are responsible for 221,000 tonnes of food waste each year. The nation as a whole wastes approximately 835,000 tonnes of food annually, equivalent to over 1m meals every single day.

The economic cost of this waste is estimated at €1.29bn per year, so better food management and waste reduction across the country will not only save food but also save you some money.

If you think it’s a problem too big to tackle on an individual basis, food box delivery service HelloFresh has a refreshing take on it: They calculated that if just 10 households reduce their food waste by 25%, it could save around 650 meals each year.

“It all adds up,” says Reema Dutta Gupta, senior recipe developer and editor at HelloFresh Ireland.

“Both in Ireland and globally, the current system for managing food waste falls short. While much of this stems from ineffective regulations and change is certainly required, the importance of the collective actions of everyday people cannot be underestimated. I understand it can feel like any action we take is too small to matter, but with better
awareness and a genuine willingness to hold ourselves accountable, it can and does make a difference.”

Reema’s tips to reduce food waste:

Reframe your mindset

“Arguably the most important step is viewing your food waste from the perspective of how tiny, everyday decisions compound over time. A small amount of leftovers on a plate often doesn’t feel like a big deal, it can become easy to disregard this as nothing.

This isn’t to say you will never throw away some food. Some waste is inevitable. The problem is that many people see any leftover food as a total failure. In reality, the goal is not perfection but reducing as much food waste as possible. Most people don’t really know how to judge what ‘doing their part’ looks like. Even reducing your food waste by only 25% is a success.”

Rethink your portions

“Portion control isn’t about restricting yourself, it’s about understanding your own habits. We often serve more than we can realistically eat because we
assume we’ll eat it later, but that extra food frequently ends up in the bin.

“Leftovers are great, but it’s also about being honest with yourself. Ask whether you would realistically eat them, and if the answer is yes, make the plan of having them for lunch the next day instead of tossing them. Alternatively, using a food box delivery service or better meal planning can take the guesswork out of portions.

“Simple, mindful choices like limiting impulse buys and watching portion sizes can help you make the most of the food you already have at home. Many people buy ingredients like fresh chilies or herbs for a single recipe, only to find they go off before using them again.”

To prevent this, Reema recommends proactively planning to batch cook extra so you can use all of the ingredients and freeze multiple portions for an easy weeknight dinner. Frozen portions can typically be kept for up to three months while still maintaining their flavour and quality.

Use your senses

“Many people throw food away based on labels alone,” she says. “Smell, look, and taste are better indicators than best-before dates. Learning to trust your senses helps you make better judgement on what can still be eaten.

“Even a small shift in how you assess food means fewer perfectly edible ingredients being discarded. Over time, this habit alone can cut your waste significantly.

“For example, with hard cheeses, you can often cut off a small area of mould and safely use the rest. Softer cheeses or foods with extensive mould should be discarded, but for some items, a little careful trimming can stop food from going to waste.”

Think of leftovers creatively

“Leftovers can be repurposed into completely new dishes,” Reema adds. “A bit of roasted veg can be blended into a soup, stale bread becomes croutons, and small amounts of cooked rice can be fried with eggs and vegetables.

“By viewing your leftovers this way, there is far more potential for what you can do. If you’re struggling with what to transform them into, looking online can be great for inspiration. For example, leftover bolognese can easily become tacos with a little extra spice like chili powder or paprika, some tortillas and whatever toppings you like.”