Christmas is a time for celebration, family, and good food. It may be one of the most wonderful times of the year, but it is also one of the most wasteful. because people will waste approximately half of the food they bought for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. There are a lot of leftovers. Every year, 7 million metric tonnes of food are thrown away in the United Kingdom during the Christmas season. Christmas food waste is expensive, bad for the environment, and affects humans. If you don’t have a proper Christmas plan and aren’t sure what to do with all the leftover food, here are some ideas to reduce Christmas food waste.

6 Ideas to Reduce Christmas Food Waste

1. Don’t Cook Everything

Don’t Cook Everything. Even though you may have bought more than you needed, you are not required to cook it all. Cooking a complete meal on Christmas Day for a small group of people could lead to excessive waste. So, you can avoid them and save your food for future use.

2. Plan Ahead

It may appear simple, but planning makes a huge difference. Take reservations, and for large parties, it is a good idea to call on the day to ensure the number of people coming at the same time is the same, so you don’t overbook. Make your menu well in advance for parties. Less is more; just a few dishes will be enough. If possible, consider the days following a large party and whether there are any ways you can reuse some of the same ingredients in other dishes to help reduce waste.

3. Get to Know your Freezer

Christmas foods that you can label and store for later if you have any leftovers or extras Those foods include wine, turkey, stilton, roast potatoes, minced peas, and veggies. Just be sure to write the date you made it on the packet labels so you can track how long it has been in the freezer. Additionally, you must learn the whole list of things that can be frozen, as well as packaging instructions.

4. Make a Shopping List

Your shopping list will be based on your list of dishes. Make a list of all the Christmas dishes you plan to prepare before leaving. This waste management plan will help you purchase only the necessary ingredients. Likewise, try to limit your food purchases to prevent spoiling. Stay away from excessive buying. You can save money by planning your market or supermarket lists.

5. Get Composting

Get a compost or recycling bin for yourself if you don’t already have one. If you are unable to use all of your scraps, at least you can compost them in the garden to replace the soil’s nutrients. This includes eggshells, tea bags, and potato peels.

6. Spread the Word

Educate your friends and family on how to reduce food waste during the Christmas holiday season. Christmas is a time of year when waste levels keep rising. To help reduce food waste during the Christmas season, raise awareness among your friends and family about how they can reduce their food and household waste. Share your experiences with trying to manage spending and waste during the holidays with them. There are numerous ways to reduce food waste, and everyone can donate.

Conclusion

Food waste can significantly increase around Christmas. In order to reduce food waste, carefully plan your dinner, use leftovers properly, and compost any food you won’t be able to eat. We hope this article will help you celebrate Christmas without wasting food.