Reducing food waste doesn’t have to mean making big changes to your routine. Small habits, from checking the cupboard before heading to the shops to making better use of leftovers, can all help us waste less food at home.

At Lazy Day, we’re committed to reducing food waste as part of our sustainability efforts. Here are six simple ways you can get involved at home, including a few tips for making the most of your Lazy Day treats.

1. Plan before you shop

A little planning can go a long way. Before heading to the supermarket, think about the meals, snacks and treats you’ll need for the week and make a shopping list.

Planning ahead can help you avoid buying more than you’ll realistically use, particularly when it comes to products with a shorter shelf life.

It doesn’t have to be a detailed meal plan either. Even having a rough idea of what you already have and what you’re likely to eat can make a difference.

2. Store products correctly

How you store food can have a big impact on how long it stays at its best.

Always follow the storage instructions on the packaging and, once opened, make sure products are stored correctly to help maintain their quality and freshness.

For Lazy Day treats, check the individual pack for the relevant storage instructions. If you’ve opened a sharing pack but don’t fancy finishing it all at once, keeping the remaining pieces properly stored in an airtight container can help you enjoy them later rather than letting them go to waste.

3. Freeze extras

The freezer can be one of the easiest ways to prevent food from being wasted.

If you have food you know you won’t get through in time, check whether it’s suitable for freezing and freeze it before it goes to waste. This is particularly handy when plans change unexpectedly, or you’ve simply bought more than you need.

Always follow the freezing and defrosting guidance provided for the particular product.

4. Check your cupboards before buying

We’ve all come home from the shops only to discover there was already another packet hiding at the back of the cupboard.

Before writing your shopping list, have a quick look through your cupboards, fridge and freezer. It can help prevent duplicate purchases and might even give you some inspiration for meals or snacks using what you already have.

It’s also worth bringing older products to the front of your cupboard so you remember to use them first.

5. Understand Best Before dates

Knowing the difference between Best Before and Use By dates can help prevent perfectly good food from being thrown away unnecessarily.

A Use By date is about food safety and should always be followed. Food should not be eaten after the Use By date, even if it looks, smells or tastes fine. Make sure foods with a Use By date are stored according to the instructions on the packaging, particularly where refrigeration is required.

A Best Before date, on the other hand, relates to quality. Food can still be safe to eat after its Best Before date, although its taste or texture may not be quite as intended. Always make sure it has been stored according to the instructions and use your judgement to check the product before eating it.

Understanding the difference can help you make a more informed decision before automatically putting something in the bin.

6. Get creative with leftovers

Sometimes a small amount of food isn’t enough for a full serving, but that doesn’t mean it needs to go to waste.

Leftover treats can be given a second life in all sorts of ways. Try crumbling a little Lazy Day Rocky Road over a yoghurt bowl, chopping a Cake Bar into pieces to create a dessert topping, or adding leftover pieces of Tiffin to ice cream.

You could even create a sharing dessert using a mixture of treats already sitting in the cupboard. It’s an easy way to use up what you have while creating something a little different.

Small changes can make a difference

Reducing food waste is about making better use of the food we already have. Planning ahead, storing food correctly, understanding date labels and finding creative ways to use leftovers are all simple habits that can add up over time.

So, next time there’s one lonely Lazy Day treat left in the pack, don’t forget about it at the back of the cupboard!