Take five minutes to think about the meals you would like for the week ahead. You’ll also find it much easier when you go food shopping if you have your meals in mind.
Try planning something simple and straightforward for the days when you will be busy or home late, such as a leftover meal from the freezer.
Before you go food shopping, have a look to see what you have in your cupboards, fridge and freezer. This will help you remember what you already have in there.
You may have food staples in your cupboard that you can easily plan your meals around, e.g. rice and pasta
If you buy a lot of fresh produce you could try buying smaller quantities more often so you can enjoy it when it is at its best.
If you plan to make something that freezes well, try making extra so that you can freeze the rest for another day when you have less time.
Please click here to download our Love Food Hate Waste campaign Leaflet.
Please click here to download our Love Food Hate Waste Planning poster.
If I don’t check what I’ve got in my cupboards before I go shopping, I end up buying things I already have.
Brian Maule, Chef It may sound obvious but
for the best flavour you
should pick whatever berry
is in peak season. Click here to find
out more
Martin Wishart, Chef
Take time to forward plan before you visit your local shop, farmers market or supermarket.
Think ahead about what meals you will be preparing that week and buy the fresh fruit, vegetables and other ingredients accordingly.
Brian Maule, Chef
Buy food on a daily basis - that way it will always be fresh and you know what you will be doing each day so it cuts down on waste.
Tony Singh, Chef
Buy seasonal produce which is much cheaper - buying strawberries in December will cost you a packet as they aren’t in season.
Things like turkey, red cabbage, celery, pears, sea bass, pomegranate, wild duck, Swede, turnips, pumpkin and beetroot are all in season in December so won’t cost as much.
Dr Chris Fenn, Nutritionist
Get into the habit of buying fresh fruits and vegetables (locally grown and/or organic are best). Remember to eat them too. Organic vegetables are not sprayed with pesticides and go off quickly.
If you do find old or rotten vegetables, don’t waste them or throw them out – compost them. Then use the compost to grow your own for next year. You can then pick fresh vegetables as you need them.
Nick Nairn, Chef
We waste a ridiculous amount of food in this country, mostly because we buy more than we need and make no plans as to how we're actually going to cook or use it.
Planning out your weekly meals is both easy and kinder on the wallet, as you end up chucking less away.
Tony Singh, Chef
Try to shop regularly for small amounts of food. This means food remains fresh and waste is kept to a minimum.
Buy frozen vegetables that’ll last.
Tony Singh, Chef
Nowadays, about a third of the food we buy is thrown away. This is mainly because people aren’t shopping sensibly. The notion of supermarket shopping is seen as a chore, so people tend to do one major shop per week. As a result, ready meals are bought in bulk for the week ahead and are thrown out if people decide to go out for dinner or order take-away instead. And off cuts of meat are thrown in the bin instead of being reused.
If I don’t check what I’ve got in my cupboards before I go shopping, I end up buying things I already have. 
