At 63 percent, private households in Austria are responsible for almost two thirds of food waste. A lot is thrown away around the Christmas holidays. But that doesn’t have to be the case. With a few simple tips, a lot of food can be saved from the trash in the next few days.
Shop consciously and specifically
Especially at Christmas, it’s a good idea to plan your shopping well. The number of guests and the menu are usually decided in advance. And even if discount campaigns like “2 + 1 free” can be tempting, you should always ask yourself which food is really needed – and which will most likely be left over and ultimately end up in the bin.
Accept or cancel in a timely manner
However, in order to be able to plan well as a host, you also need the help of your guests. For most people, agreeing or canceling in good time is not only good manners, but also makes shopping planning easier and helps to avoid food waste.
Appreciate food and save money
An average of 800 euros per year per household ends up in the trash in the form of food. This not only puts a strain on your wallet, but also on the climate. Up to ten percent of global greenhouse gases are caused by the production of food that is not eaten. Being aware of what goes into a food can help produce less food waste. True to the motto “appreciate instead of throwing away”, this might also be a good resolution for the New Year.
Use leftovers or freeze them
If there is something left over from Christmas dinner, it doesn’t have to end up in the trash. Instead of throwing away the leftovers, there are numerous options for using them to make other dishes – there are no limits to creativity. Otherwise, freezing is an easy option for a quick, delicious meal after the holidays.
Store food properly
Food often spoils more quickly because it has not been stored properly. In order to avoid food waste, it is beneficial to find out about the correct storage conditions for individual foods. You should also not misunderstand the best before date (BBD). In many cases, food has a significantly longer shelf life than the best before date indicates. Relying on your own senses often pays off here.