New Year’s Resolutions are certainty a hot topic of conversation at the moment! Whether your 2021 is full of subtle changes such as keeping the house tidier, or a more drastic resolution of veganism, there is one thing we should all attempt in 2021 and that is to reduce our food waste.

The festive period is frequently drawn to a close when the leftovers run dry but, why do we only adopt this habit at Christmas? It’s time we start to make the most of the food that’s about to expire.

Here are our top tips to help you reduce your food waste in 2021:

1. Expiration dates are a suggestion

It’s a common misconception that expiration dates are the exact date your food must be consumed by. Whilst meat and dairy products may go sour, vegetables maintain their taste and nutrients post expiration date, they just require a little trimming. Often vegetables would not be sold on the date which they are ‘best before’, but they can indeed still be consumed.

2. Be proactive

Make your freezer your new best friend. We all go into the fridge every day so why not take some time to assess the fresh food and what you know is not going to be eaten in time. If it can be frozen, go for it… then it is not wasted. Instead it becomes supplies when you are missing one ingredient midway through a recipe! Alternatively, cook the food and put it back in the fridge, this gives you more time to eat it.

3. Be creative

Avoid emptying half of your fridge into the bin by getting creative with some new and improved recipes. Soup is an obvious choice to use up your vegetables, just pop all the veggies in a pot, add some stock and seasoning, simmer away, blend or eat as a chunky soup. Fruit can easily be cooked and served with yoghurt, porridge or simply drizzled with honey. However, if you want to get a bit more adventurous then why not turn your fruit into jam or bring back a lockdown favourite of banana bread. Apples can become crumble, purée or pie instead of rubbish. Meat can be shredded and completely reinvented by adding a teriyaki sauce and serving in lettuce wraps or fajita powder and tortilla wraps.

Many of us have a little extra time on our hands at the moment so, why not get a little creative in the kitchen this year and help reduce your food waste.

And speaking of New Year’s resolutions, why not enter 2021 in style and hire a private chef with Dineindulge! It’s a great opportunity to share your new no waste resolution with your family and friends. Use the below form to book your 2021 meal.