Start with the fridge
Before you do the weekly shop, spend a few minutes looking at what you already have. Move older things to the front. Check what needs using up in the next day or two and plan a meal around it rather than buying more. It's the single most effective thing you can do to cut food waste at home, and it saves money.
Make more use of the freezer
Most people under-use their freezer. Bread, cooked grains, soups, stews, curry pastes, fresh ginger, all freeze well. Herbs that are about to turn can be chopped and frozen. Buying meat in bulk and freezing in portions is cheaper and means less packaging overall.
The key is using what you freeze. A quick label with the date and contents means you're not guessing weeks later.
At the shops
A lot of food waste starts at the shops. Writing a list cuts down on impulse buys that can end up unused. Loose produce lets you buy exactly what you need rather than a pre-packaged quantity that's more than you want. Buying in bulk makes sense for things you use regularly, but only if you'll genuinely get through it all.
Composting the rest
Whatever can't be eaten can often be composted rather than binned. Fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and eggshells all break down into something useful for the garden. If you don't have outdoor space, many councils now have FOGO bin systems, and a quick search online should bring up community composting schemes in your local area.
Start small
Pick one or two things that feel manageable and start there. A quick fridge check before shopping is probably the most useful place to begin.
