How to reduce food waste in your house -

Food waste is a reality that affects many families around the world. No one likes to throw food away, but we are all guilty of doing it, either because its 'use-by' date has expired, or simply because the food becomes spoiled.

Here are some tips you can start implementing to reduce food waste from today onwards!

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Best before - When cooking, give preference to foods that are close to their expiry date. Write these down on a list and stick it on the fridge so you don't forget.

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List - Before you go shopping, check what is in the fridge and pantry and make a list accordingly. This way you will not run the risk of doubling up with foods you already have.

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List - Always use a shopping list at the supermarket. It reduces the chances of you forgetting what to buy.

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List - Make a list of foods that are approaching their expiry date. Note when you put things in the freezer so they do not expire past their best by date.

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Focus on the details - Plan your meals for the week in advance. This will allow you to plan weekly food shopping and avoid waste. Pay special attention to fruit and vegetables.

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Frozen foods - You have made a list but still bought more food than you needed and now you do not know what to do with it? If you bought too many vegetables for instance, freeze them. This will make them last longer and they will not spoil.

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Arranging your food - Pay special attention to the way you store foods in the pantry and the fridge. Products that have to be consumed first or have a shorter shelf life should be easily accessible and visible.

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Arrange your fridge - It is very important to pay special attention to how you arrange products in your fridge.

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Promotions - Supermarket promotions are usually great but they also encourage us to buy more products, some of these may end up going to waste, due to their reduced shelf life. Can you freeze the extras?

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Leftovers - Didn't finish dinner? Why not have the leftovers for tomorrow's lunch? Leftovers from the previous meal can save you time in the kitchen and even serve as side dishes.

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Fruit - Do you have too many fruits or vegetables close to spoiling? Make a smoothie or a soup. It's a great way to enjoy food and avoid food waste.

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Peels, stalks and leaves - Peels, stalks, and leaves of fruits and vegetables need not be wasted. These are rich in vitamins and minerals and can turn into nutritious and healthy sides.

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Peels - Lemon peel, for example, can be used to make tea. So take advantage of this part of the fruit and enjoy a healthy drink.

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Cheeses - If well preserved in the fridge, soft cheeses, like ricotta, can last for up to 5 days without spoiling, while hard cheeses, like Parmesan, last longer. If cheese acquires a greenish color or becomes moldy, it is best to throw it away.

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Wine -

Wine should be drunk on the same day of opening the bottle because it is subject to oxidation. Oxygen enters the bottle and reacts with the drink, changing its flavor and aroma. You can still use oxidized wine for cooking, however.

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Use the good bits - If a fruit or vegetable is bruised, simply cut around the bad parts and use the good bit. There is no need to throw it all away.

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Fruit and vegetables - If they cleaned and dried before being stored in the fridge, these foods can last for five days. With the exception of tropical fruits like bananas and avocados, which will become darker.

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Storage - After a meal, store any leftovers in closed containers with a lid and put them in the fridge. This will make the food last up to three days without spoiling.

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Meats - Meats usually have a short shelf life and if not consumed in time, they will spoil. Alternatively, you can freeze them to prevent any unnecessary waste.

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Butter and margarine - Butter can last up to three months in the fridge, otherwise it melts easily.

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Canned foods - All canned products have great shelf life, but once opened, they should be consumed quickly. On average, once it is open, canned food lasts no longer than 5 days and if it is left outside the fridge it is even less.

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Cereal - It is very important that you do not leave cereal bags open because exposing cereal to air will make it soft and spoil over time. Use a peg or clasp to close the box, or put cereal in a container.

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Cookies - Like cereal, cookies also have a shorter lifespan if you do not store them correctly. In this case, they may become soft and their taste may change.

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Milk - Regular pasteurized milk should be consumed in one day because it spoils quickly, as opposed to Ultra-high temperature (UHT) one, which lasts three to four days in the fridge

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Supermarkets - Studies indicate that when the supermarket is full, people have a tendency to buy more than they usually do. Try going to the grocery store on a quieter day and choose the foods you really need and will consume.

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Portions - Just put enough food on the plate for that specific meal. Often we do not eat the entire portion and end up throwing food away.

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Make another list - This time, make a list of the food you have thrown away lately. This will help you to understand which products have shorter shelf life as well as the foods you consume the least.

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