Are you a food waster?

Do you throw food away? A staggering one third of food produced for human consumption is wasted each year.

Not only does this squander all the resources that go into food production and transport, rotting food in landfills produces methane, a major greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

Some tips for avoiding food waste:

• Plan your meals a week ahead, check which ingredients you have, make a shopping list of only what you need, and stick to it.
• Check that the fridge temperature is 1 - 5 degrees C and the door seals properly.
• Don't throw perfectly good food away. Use up leftovers wherever possible. Make slightly overripe fruit into smoothies and slightly wilting vegetables into soups and and stews.
• Put newly-bought foods at the back of the cupboard and fridge, and bring older items to the front so you remember to use them before their use-by date.
• Use your freezer. Freeze food in batches; freeze sliced bread before it goes stale.
• Serve smaller portion sizes so people will be more likely to clear their plates.
• Start a compost bin. 

- Olivia Rose-Innes, EnviroHealth Editor, Health24, April 2012