Make the most of Christmas, don’t waste it, write the folks at Love Food Hate Waste.
The festive season in Aotearoa is a time for whānau, friends, and food. But it can also be one of the most expensive and wasteful times of the year.
Between the feasts, the last-minute shopping, and the overflowing fridges, too much food ends up in the bin. The good news? With a little planning and creativity, you can enjoy celebrations that are not only joyful, but lighter on your wallet and the planet too!
One of the simplest ways to cut down on food waste is by making sure your food stays fresh. Clearing out your fridge and freezer ahead of time gives you more space and saves forgotten items from going to waste. Those half-used jars or odd bits of frozen food you find can be transformed into the ultimate "fridge harvest" meal. And don’t forget to check your fridge temperature, it should be set between 2-5°C to keep everything fresher for longer.
It’s easy to get carried away with festive shopping and pile far more into the trolley than you need. The key to a thrifty celebration starts before you even set foot in the supermarket. Writing a menu and a shopping list will help you buy only what you need for the dishes you plan to make. Before you buy, shop your pantry, fridge, and freezer first — you might already have the rice, spices or sauces you need tucked away. Smart swaps also make a difference. Consider a chicken instead of a giant turkey or build your menu around what’s in season to stretch your budget further.
Gift-giving doesn’t have to break the bank either. Some of the most meaningful presents are edible and home-made, often using ingredients you already have at home. A batch of biscuits, jars of jam or chutney, or a basket of garden produce make for a thoughtful and affordable gift. You can even get creative with what you may already have, extra nuts, berries or dried fruits can quickly become festive chocolate bark, bliss balls, or yoghurt bark. These are low-cost and waste-free.
And then there are the leftovers themselves. It can be easy to over-cater during celebrations, but planning for leftovers ensures they’re celebrated, not wasted. Ham can be turned into breakfast fritters, sandwich fillings, pizza topping, pasta bakes and more, while roast veges make a delicious Boxing Day salad. You could even start a new tradition of serving a "leftovers platter" the next day — a spread of sandwiches, salads and grazing bites that makes the most of what’s still fresh. If you can’t get to it in time, freeze it for later. Leftover ham, chicken, barbecue meats, bread rolls, or even dips, hard cheeses and gravy can all be frozen and enjoyed. Perfect for when you want an easy meal in January.
Ingredients
1 cup plain or flavoured yoghurt
½ cup dried fruits, roughly chopped
¼ cup nuts or seeds
Optional extras
¼ cup berries or chopped fruits
1 Tbsp chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
1-2 Tbsp coconut flakes or desiccated coconut
Method
1. Grab your yoghurt and give it a good mix, then evenly pour it on to a lined tray that you can put in the freezer.
2. Grab all your toppings and sprinkle them over the yoghurt.
3. Pop into the freezer for at least
one hour, or overnight.
4. Break the bark into pieces of any size you like.
5. Store in a container in the freezer and happy festive snacking and gifting.
