3 ways to reduce your food waste

As we all wake up to our global food waste issues and are bombarded with stats (like UK households wasting £13 billion worth of food every year, according to WRAP), the problem can seem insurmountable. But there are lots of small changes you can make at home that mount up. Anna Pitt, author of Leftover Pie: 101 ways to reduce your food waste, shares some easy ways to stop food waste at home.

Discover food waste apps

Food sharing apps are growing. These match people with food to give away with people who want it. Imagine you've got food left over after a dinner party or are off on holiday and won't get through everything. Instead of throwing that food away, you can offer it on an app like Olio and someone will come and collect it. Not only do these apps reduced waste but they help rebuild communities too.

There’s also Too Good To Go which connects hungry diners with local restaurants who have food left at the end of the day and want to sell it at a reduced price. At the moment the maximum price is £3.80.

Get your dates right

Many people throw away food that has reached its best before date, but this can lead to unnecessary waste. The only date you need to adhere to for safety reasons is the use by date. You'll see the use by date on some meat products and ready prepared salads. The best before date is simply a guideline and is not related to safety. All it means is that after that date the food may change colour, taste or texture, but it is perfectly safe to eat.

Grow your own

Growing your own herbs or vegetables isn’t as daunting as you think. Start small with basil or chillis if you like and get a feel for it. There are plenty of things you can grow with only a windowsill or a small amount of space. Tomatoes don't need much room or you can even grow strawberries in a hanging basket. Growing and tending your own food tends to give you more of an appreciation of the time and effort farmers put into to getting crops to your table - and it saves money.

For more zero waste and food waste tips go to (http://pebblemag.com/magazine/eating-drinking/7-ways-to-reduce-your-food-waste)