14 Sustainable Kitchen Hacks

Your kitchen is a hub of activity and, potentially, a lot of waste. Here, we give you 14 simple hacks to minimise your impact on the environment, save you money and help you lead a greener life.

- Lisa Holmen

Are you guilty of putting your leftovers in the fridge only to rediscover them growing moss a week later? You’re not the only one. We’re not using food as smartly as we should be. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to reduce your environmental footprint, create a more sustainable kitchen and save money while you’re at it.

1 Develop a weekly meal plan

Most food wastage comes from buying things you don’t need and from inadequate planning. To avoid ending up with four bags of sugar in the pantry next time you shop, it’s a good idea to shop from your fridge and pantry first. This way, you can plan your next meals around what needs to be eaten. Sounds simple, right? Before you go shopping, jot down your weekly meal plan with a detailed list of ingredients and make sure you stick to it to avoid getting sucked in by tempting offers and impulse buys at the supermarket checkout.

When a dish calls for two tomatoes, resist the temptation to buy a whole bag. Be honest with yourself. Unless you’re 100 per cent sure you are going to consume all of them before they go off, don’t buy them. It may sound like a no brainer but never, ever shop on an empty stomach. You won’t believe the amount of time and money you will save.

Experiment with doing one batchcook a week. Sunday afternoons can be a great time to get set up for the week ahead. This helps you to plan ahead and freeze extra meal portions if required. Sometimes life can get chaotic and plans can change, so it’s great to have an extra meal you can enjoy without the fuss.

2 Love your leftovers