Make a plan

Planning your family meal’s for the week and preparing a shopping list can help you avoid buying food you don't need or won't use.

If overbuying is your thing, avoid going shopping when you're hungry, resist multi-buy deals and opt for loose fruit and vegetables so you can choose how much you buy.

Shop your pantry

Before heading to the shops, check what's already in your fridge and pantry as we often buy food we already have. Regularly checking also helps prevent food being forgotten and going to waste.

Store it correctly

Storing food correctly makes it last longer, but it can be difficult to know what should go where. Do you keep eggs in the fridge or pantry? Do tomatoes go in the fridge or fruit bowl? Sustainability Victoria's guide to food storage is a handy resource.

Use it up

Using up your food before buying more is the best way to reduce food waste at home. Try choosing a day a week when you plan to use up leftover fruit and vegetables. The best time to do this is the night before your weekly shop.

Not sure what to make? Many websites and apps, like Saveful, allow you to find delicious recipes based on the ingredients you have on hand.

Love your leftovers

Once your meal is over, use airtight containers to keep things fresh and place them front and centre in the fridge. After all, leftovers make a great lunch the next day. If you're unlikely to eat your leftovers over the following days, freeze them, making a mental note to enjoy them when you need a night off cooking.

Make your freezer your friend

Your freezer is one of the easiest ways to prevent food waste, but it can quickly become disorganised. Freeze food before its use-by date, portion it into airtight containers or freezer bags, and label items clearly so you know what to use first.

Compost your food waste

Some food waste is unavoidable. Even when food isn’t edible, it can still be useful. Placing food scraps in your green-lid food and organics bin allows them to be turned into nutrient-rich compost instead of going to landfill.