Meals

Before you shop

• Planning your meals and food shopping helps you use food more effectively and avoid waste. This will save you time, money and stress.
• 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.
• You may have food staples in your cupboard that you can easily plan your meals around, e.g. rice and pasta

When you shop

• Remember to check date labels so you know when it needs to be used by.
• Your local butcher, deli, greengrocer or counters at your local supermarket can provide you with the exact amount you want.
• Look out for the variety of pack sizes available for example Sainsbury’s are offering smaller sized meals and ingredient packs for single portions and children.

Cooking the right amount

• Look out for the recommended portion sizes available on ingredients such as pasta and rice.
• A guide for measuring uncooked rice:
  • Child portion – 2 ½ level tablespoons, 35ml
  • Adult portion – 5 level tablespoons, 75ml
  • 4 adult portions – 1 full mug, 300ml

Making the most of your meals

• Packs of meat and fish can be separated into smaller pieces for the freezer so you can take out the right amount you need.
• Frozen raw meat or fish can be defrosted, cooked thoroughly (as a meal for example) then frozen again – however remember foods can never be reheated more than once.
• If you have leftovers you want to reuse again, chill them as soon as possible and keep in an airtight container in the fridge.
• You should try to eat leftovers within two days. The only exception to this is cooked rice, which should be eaten within one day.
• If you are making a meal in advance, for example sandwiches, then you are best to keep it cool in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

(source: Food Standards Agency)

To access campaign resources and materials please visit our Waste Aware Partners website.