IN the UK, we waste on average a staggering £500 per household every year.
National figures have revealed that we Brits throw out so much that the waste bill is an eye-watering £12-billion.
That's 7.2 million tonnes of food and drink from our homes, and the majority of which could have been eaten.
And not only is it bad on our wallet, it's bad for the environment as well.
There are two main reasons why we throw away good food: we cook or prepare too much or we don't use it in time.
And the foods we waste the most are:
Fresh vegetables
Fresh salad
Drink
Fresh fruit
Bakery items, such as bread and cakes.
The Grimsby Telegraph has been leading an initiative to encourage people to donate their spare tins and packets of food as part of the Ten Tonnes Of Tins Campaign.
Businesses and residents from across the region donated a staggering amount of food to the Christain Action Resource Enterprise (Care) food larder, which provides parcels of food to people in need.
Sarah Taylor, general manager of Care, said there is an increasing amount of people struggling to afford to eat and any spare food in your cupboard could make a big difference.
She explained: "Since April we have fed nearly 1,500 adults and children across North East Lincolnshire through providing emergency food parcels.
"This need continues to rise, but in order to keep up with this demand the food larder relies solely on donations.
"Therefore, rather than waste any food, I would encourage people to consider whether it could be donated to the larder and be used to help feed a family in need."
The food the larder will accept in donation includes:
Jams/spreads.
Small packets and variety packs of cereal.
Long life milk/ powdered milk. Tea bags.
Instant coffee.
Boxed long-life fruit juices.
Tinned food and packets of soup.
Pasta/ rice/ supernoodles.
Soya mix.
Tinned/dried fruit.
The Love Food Hate Waste programme offers great tips on reducing waste and saving money.
Start saving money right now by opening the fridge door and checking the 'use by' dates on what's inside. How often do you go to grab something out of the fridge only to find the 'use by' date has passed and you just throw it away?
Milk, yoghurts, cheese and other dairy products can often be forgotten at the back of the fridge.
Move items into your freezer that are perishable and you are not planning on eating them soon.
When you get home with your shopping, it is a good idea to transfer as much as you can into the freezer straightaway.
If you have large packets of chicken pieces or fish, divide them up and freeze individual portions.
Understanding food dates and what the 'best before' and 'use by' labels really mean is key to making the most of your fridge and freezer. Another great way to reduce the food you throw away is to keep your store cupboard and freezer well stocked with a wide range of long-life goods that you know your family will eat.
Tinned beans, frozen vegetables, meat and fish and dried fruit, nuts, pasta and noodles, rice and grains, all usually boast a long shelf life.
Stocking these items will always leave you with a range of ingredients standing by to create a meal and to throw together with your leftovers.
Just make sure you remember to replace what you have used for next time.
Keep a note stuck on the inside of the cupboard door or with a magnet to the freezer to jot down items as soon as you have used them.
This will help when it comes to writing your next shopping list; it helps you see what food is being eaten and what is not.
Your store cupboard supplies can also be used to create meals from leftovers.
Large amounts of carbohydrate-loaded food, such as bread, rice, potatoes and pasta, are cooked every day.
How often do you find yourself putting it in the bin?
If not, this could be a great way to cut down on waste and – more importantly – cost.
If you find yourself going to grab a slice of bread for toast but find the bread has started to form some blue spots, there are ways around it.
If you enjoy hot buttered toast, keep a ready sliced loaf in the freezer which can go straight into the toaster when you want a piece. Large, whole loaves of bread can be cut in half and one frozen for later in the week.
You will be surprised how easy it is to save money just by being more careful with your carbs.
Do you measure your portion sizes?
It's amazing how many meals you can get from one chicken!
If you enjoy a roast on Sunday, the remains of the joint would make a great curry or a delicious risotto later in the week and you'll always find enough for a sandwich. If you have time, the carcass can also be boiled up for stock and soups.
If you have some dinner left in the pan, bag it and pop it in the freezer as a 'ready meal' for one.
Even the smallest amount could be pureed up for the baby or served as a kid's portion for lunch the next day.
Crusts and stale bread can be blitzed in the food processor to make breadcrumbs which can be stored in the freezer.
The same can be done with cake or biscuits and used as a topping for crumbles and puddings.
The last dregs of wine or beer can be frozen in ice cube trays and popped out into stews and casseroles when cooking.
Cut the bruises off old apples and toss into the pan with your sausages. And don't throw out those black bananas – mash them up and add cream for a super-quick pudding the children will love.
Being crafty with your food is the clever way to save those pennies.
With a little bit of thought, you can create some delicious surprises from your leftovers – they don't have to mean second best.
Finally, planning your meals is one of the most effective ways you can cut wastage and food bills.
Start by checking your fridge, freezer and store cupboard, and before you go shopping, write a list, so you don't shop for things you already have.
Get the kids to help and to suggest what meals they'd like to have that week.
To donate to Care, call 01472 268795.
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