‘Tis the season, and many of us celebrate the holidays with festive treats and delicious meals—that means leftovers!
Thankfully, you can save food (and money) this holiday season by using up all your leftovers.
Did you know that the average Canadian household wastes 140kg of food per year? That adds up to roughly $1,300!
Reducing food waste not only saves you money at the grocery store, it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
If you’re looking to save some delicious holiday eats AND save your money this season, here are 7 tips on how to use-up your leftovers:
Make room in your fridge
Before the holidays, start using up any food that needs to be eaten—leftovers, produce, scraps of bread—and clear out space in your fridge and freezer for new leftovers.
Plan your meals
Be realistic about how much food you’ll really need, and try to prepare only what you and your guests will eat. Consider buying a slightly smaller turkey.
Party favours!
Holiday leftovers are the ultimate holiday party favour. Ask your dinner guests to bring a reusable container so they can enjoy your meal for the next day—or week! No need to buy holiday crackers.
Host a cookie swap
If you find yourself with too much holiday baking or want an excuse to bake more, but worry it might go to waste if you do, invite a few friends and family over for a cookie swap.
Freeze, please
Freeze individual sized portions that you can re-heat for a quick meal.
Cook creatively
There are plenty of recipes that use up turkey, cranberries, mashed potatoes and more. Search for recipes based on what you have on hand and get inspired!
Pot pie to the rescue
Use up extra meat, gravy, vegetables and mashed potatoes in pot pie, a comfort food classic. The potatoes work as a topping and can be mixed into the gravy to tighten up the filling.
For more tips on how to save money and reduce food waste, please visit Capital Regional District online!
The CRD’s new Solid Waste Management Plan has a target of 250 kg/capita over the next decade and includes strategies for reducing all streams of solid waste, including avoidable food waste. The CRD has partnered with Love Food Hate Waste Canada to offer tips simple steps to reduce food waste, from storing food so it stays fresh to using up leftovers to meal planning.
We’ve partnered with the CRD to give away TWO Love Food Hate Waste gift packs, which will include:
- $100 grocery store gift card
- Bento Box for leftovers
- Apron
- Bag
CONTEST
For your chance to win the above gift pack care of the CRD (we’re giving away two!), complete one or more of the following:
- LIKE Capital Regional District Facebook and comment below to let us know you have. (1 entry)
- FOLLOW Capital Regional District on Instagram (1 entry)
- SHARE this article on Facebook and comment below to let us know you have. (1 entry)
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 pm on November 30th 2022. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter. Make sure to register when commenting below.
