Five easy ways to waste less food at home

Most food waste at home comes from a few everyday habits: buying more than we use, storing food badly, and forgetting what is already in the fridge. Changing a handful of routines makes a real difference.

1. Plan a few meals before you shop

You do not need a rigid weekly plan. Decide on three or four dinners, check what you already have, and write a list. Shopping with a list is one of the simplest ways to stop buying food that ends up in the bin.

2. Store food where it lasts longest

Keep the fridge cold, put older items at the front and newer ones at the back, and learn which fruit and vegetables keep better in the fridge and which on the counter. Airtight containers keep leftovers and opened food fresh for longer.

3. Understand date labels

A "use by" date is about safety, so follow it. A "best before" date is about quality: food is often fine after it, so look, smell and taste before throwing it away.

4. Cook with leftovers on purpose

Soups, stir-fries, omelettes and fried rice are built for odds and ends. Make one "use it up" meal a week from whatever needs eating first.

5. Freeze before it spoils

Bread, cooked rice, ripe bananas, grated cheese and most cooked dishes freeze well. Label the container with what it is and the date so it gets used.

Small changes add up: less food in the bin also means less money wasted. For what to do with the scraps you cannot avoid, see composting at home.