Love Food

We all have the occasional food ‘oops’ moment, the one when we end up putting food in the bin. No one intends to throw away food, whether it’s extra pasta you didn’t get round to eating, a mouldy slice of bread or a meal that just didn’t appeal again, it happens to everyone – but very few of us are willing to admit it!

Whatever the reason for food going in the bin, there are quick and easy things you can do to get even more value from the food you buy.

Browse the pages in our food section to discover tips, ideas, recipes, guides about recycling and composting, as well as links to unique and interesting organisations that help our food go a little bit further.

Here’s a quick look at what you could find, click on the boxes to see more about each of our 7 top tips

7 Top Tips to avoid food waste The food we buy and eat is different for everyone. By keeping an eye on what you throw out you’ll have a better idea about how to reduce it.

Make a plan It may sound obvious, but planning is one of the best ways to reduce food waste and start saving money and time. Don’t have time to plan? You’ll save lots of time each day when you already know what’s for dinner. You could try one of the many meal planning apps available and start planning on the go! Find out more

Buy what you need It’s very easy to be tempted by deals. Shop smart - make a list and stick to it. But if you just can’t say no then make sure to check the use by ate and see if it’s suitable for home freezing (most things are). Find out more

Be a storing Superhero What you do with food when you get it home can make a big difference to how long it lasts. Your fridge freezer can help save the day and your food.
- Check your fridge is cooler than 5°C, if it is your chicken and salad will last 3 days longer
- Apples keep 2 weeks longer in the fridge than a fruit bowl
- Make sure the food in your fridge and freezer is wrapped up well to avoid food drying out in the fridge or getting freezer burn, an airtight box or freezer bag work well. Find out more

It’s a date Dates can be confusing but don’t let them ruin your dinner time! The use by date is the important one – ignore the sell by and display until. Check the dates on food in your fridge, if you’re not going to eat it in time stick it in the freezer. Remember: you can freeze food up until the use by date. Find out more

Cook what you can eat Cooking too much is one of the main reasons food gets thrown away. A mug of rice could feed 4 adults, but the trick is to find the perfect cup in the cupboard that feeds your family. Find out more

Save what you don’t eat Freeze it for another time, take it for lunch or use it as an ingredient in another meal. If you need some ideas for different meals get the Love Food Hate Waste recipe finder to do the work for you, just type in the ingredients you have in your fridge for lots of new meal ideas. Find out more

Recycle what’s left Remember to home compost or use your food waste recycling service if you have to throw any food away. Find out more

Download our Spud and Slice leaflet (952 downloads) so you always have a copy of these 7 tips.

Do we really waste food?

Yes, as a country we do. Every home is different, the amount and type of food changes with our routines. Read on for the facts, figures and how you can find out if there’s something you can do differently.

Your Food Waste Assistant

A carrot? A potato with sprouts? Flat lemonade? Whatever food item you throw away check out what this helpful assistant suggests to keep that food ready to eat for a bit longer.

Love Food Hate Waste app

Download for both android and iphones. It has handy features such as a meal planner, shopping list and portion guide.

The Rubbish Diet Food Challenge

We all love food, but nearly a third of what ends up in west London’s bins is wasted food. Karen Cannard from The Rubbish Diet says

“We’re inviting west Londoners to join in the Challenge and try to cut food waste by at least half over the next 3 weeks. Who knows you might even reduce it to zero. Whether you’re a beginner or a waste pro, the Challenge is a chance to make a real difference to your bank balance and to the environment. In the UK, one in 5 shopping bags of food we buy ends up in the bin and we’re asking you to help change that.

“I used to buy all the offers, keep fruit on my windowsill until it was overripe and throw away whole chickens. Sound familiar? But with a few small changes I found ways to stop chucking away food and I’m sure you will too. Sign up to the challenge and we’ll share all the best tips, waste workouts and food facts to help you make the most of your food. Do you know which fruit keeps best in the fridge? Did you know that leftovers might be better for you than eating fresh? We love food, join us in ending food waste.

West London Waste - Let’s be resourceful