It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when we eat out more and enjoy having family and friends around to celebrate with a nice meal. It’s also a time when a lot of food is wasted in Galway and all over Ireland.
In fact, EPA figures show that food waste costs families at least €700 each year, with Christmas the most expensive time of the year for wasted food.
At Christmas time, many of us admit to buying extra food ‘just in case’ we have unexpected visitors, and we admit that we waste more food at Christmas than other times of the year. The good news is that taking some simple steps to plan your food during the busy festive season will save you money and time, while also helping to avoid food waste during the festive period.
Stop Food Waste has five top tips to help Galway people reduce their festive food waste and make the most of their leftovers.
Plan your Christmas menu
This year, whether you are having a small or large festive gathering, plan how much food you will need for the number of people joining you.
Stick to your Christmas shopping list
Make a list, and check it twice. Write your Christmas food shopping list before you leave the house. Check what items you already have in your fridge, cupboards and freezer, so you only buy food you need. Don’t be tempted by ‘buy–one–get-one-free’ or other special offers; they are not a good deal unless you need them. Make sure the ‘use-by’ dates on perishable food, such as dairy and meat, will still be good when you plan to eat them.
Store your Christmas food properly
Storing food properly will help it last longer. Serve and eat the more perishable foods first, and then bring out the longer-lasting foods. Fridge and freezer space might be tight, so try to use up what’s already there ahead of Christmas. Remember that freezing your Christmas food, either before or after cooking, is like a pause button – it adds weeks, or even months, to foods such as bread and cream to vegetables and even wine.
Cook enough Christmas fare
Resist cooking too much over Christmas by anticipating how much your family and guests will eat. Try an online portion size calculator to help you estimate the portions you need to cook. Save your leftovers for another dinner – a good tip is to allow everyone to serve themselves from large serving dishes, instead of plating individual meals, as we are more likely to save leftovers from serving dishes.
Remember to use Christmas leftovers
Leftovers are delicious ingredients for your next snack or dinner. Once cooled, store leftovers in reusable, resealable tubs in the fridge. As well as saving you money, leftovers are the no-stress dinner that makes it easy for you to invite family and friends around during Christmas time.
“We are encouraging every household in Galway to reduce their festive food waste and make the most of the leftovers – especially on St Stephen’s Day, which we like to call National Leftovers Day,” said Odile Le Bolloch, food waste prevention team lead at the EPA.
“Businesses have a role to play too, as nearly two-thirds of food waste is generated from food sector businesses. Many food service businesses have signed the national Food Waste Charter pledging their commitment to measure and reduce their food waste – maybe it can be a New Year’s resolution for your business to sign up.”
For great tips and advice to reduce food waste at Christmas and all year round, go to www.stopfoodwaste.ie
