Mum reveals how YOU can save £60 on food every month just by rearranging your fridge and adjusting portion sizes

THE average UK household bins £60 worth of food every month, which amounts to approximately £700 a year.

Emily Leary, 34, from Nottingham, is on a mission to help Brits reduce the number of groceries they throw away – and save a ton of cash in the process.

The mum-of-two is supporting an initiative from Love Food Hate Waste.

She is attempting to give up food waste for 40 days and is documenting the challenge on her blog, .

She said: “From half a pack of crumpets to a sprig of mint, I’m aiming for zero wastage in our household.”

Emily believes there are six simple techniques any family can adopt that will make a big impact.

1. MEAL PLANNING

Emily says you can save hundreds of pounds a year just by planning what you and your family are going to eat each week.

“Check out what you already have in the cupboards and fridge, then make a list of what you intend to cook all week before making a shopping list and heading to the supermarket,” she said.

She advises taking pictures of what’s in your fridge, freezer and cupboards to avoid doubling up on items.

2. STORAGE

Make sure you store food correctly so it retains its taste and freshness.

Things such as canned items are easy to pop in the cupboard, but care must be taken over vegetables, salad items and herbs.

Emily said: “Popping herbs into water, for example, will keep them fresher for much longer than if they languish in plastic in the fridge.”

3. FRIDGE FOCUS

Emily advises rearranging your fridge so you know exactly what you have in there.

She recommends putting condiments near the fridge door where it is warmer, and meat and dairy at the back where it’s colder.

“Adopt the ‘use by’ supermarket trick,” she said. “Twice a week, rotate your fridge so the first items you see are the ones going out of date the soonest.”

4. PORTION CONTROL

Emily says it’s a good idea to learn the correct portion sizes of different foods.

“If you have trouble visualising your meals and the amount of people you’re cooking for, Love Food Hate Waste will be offering up lots of standard portion sizes and weights for you to refer to,” she says.

Using a smaller plate can also ensure less waste as leftovers from the pan can be chilled and reused.

5. UNDERSTAND FOOD LABELS

Emily said: “Food labelling is a fantastic tool to keep us safe, but it’s not always obvious what the differences are, and that could mean you’re throwing away perfectly safe food that still tastes great.

“Use by’ is the important one. It’s about food safety, and the one you should always heed.

“However, ‘Best before’ is about food quality and should be seen more as a suggestion. Here, you can trust your judgment and senses (sight, smell, taste) to decide if food is still safe to eat.”

6. LEFTOVERS

Emily recommends investing in fridge and freezer safe storage containers, as well as some labels so you can store leftovers properly.

She recommends storing half-used items hygienically at the front of the fridge so they don’t get forgotten.