“A Pre-Holiday Guide to Minimizing Food Waste"

While carefully planning every detail of your upcoming trip, have you thought about prearranging your grocery shopping and managing leftovers to minimize food waste?

Private households and consumers contribute significantly to the amount of food wasted every year, accounting for 38% of total waste. The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) revealed that Swiss households generate around 1 million tonnes of food waste annually, with the potential to save 60kg of food per person each year with more careful usage and storage practices. Additionally, if just a third of today's food losses are prevented, we could save the CO2 equivalent of 500,000 cars (FOEN, 2019).

Getting ready for holiday is exciting but dealing with leftovers can be a challenge. When you open the fridge and see a bunch of food that might go bad while you are away. It feels bad knowing it might end up in the trash.

But don’t worry! There are simple yet effective strategies to combat food waste before your holiday. Start by creating meal plans and shopping lists, focusing on using up perishable items. Consider buying only the basics needed for the upcoming week and establish menus to make it easier. Take inventory of your fridge and pantry, planning meals around existing ingredients. Utilize recipe apps for menu ideas with simple ingredients and get creative with recipes to use up perishable items.

Leftover vegetables can be transformed into soups or stir-fries, while fruits near expiration can be blended into smoothies or frozen for later use. Consider inviting friends or neighbours over for a pre-holiday gathering to clear out your fridge or trade fruits and vegetables for their assistance in watching your pets.

By adopting these tips and getting creative with meal planning and ingredient usage, you can minimize food waste before going on holiday and make the most of what you have in your kitchen. By being mindful about using up food before your holiday, you can enjoy your trip guilt-free. Let's work together to waste less and enjoy more.

Food Waste | WWF Switzerland. https://www.wwf.ch/de/unsere-ziele/food-waste

Naturschutz, R. (2019). «Food Waste» in grossem Stil in der Schweiz. Naturschutz.ch. https://naturschutz.ch/news/gesellschaft/food-waste-in-grossem-stil-in-der-schweiz/134502