Leftovers? Don't let great taste go to waste

Love those leftovers, don't let great taste go to waste.

No matter how hard we try, sometimes we cannot avoid leftover ingredients or extra portions at meal times. With careful planning, leftovers can be a great way to save time, save money and eat well.

Some dishes can be specially prepared to provide more than one meal, such as casseroles or stews. Delicious meals can also be created from one leftover ingredient in your fridge.

The clue to using up leftovers is thinking about what you will do with them as you put them away. They can be lunch tomorrow, dinner next week or a late-night snack.

Here are some great Love Food Hate Waste ideas for reducing food waste sent to landfill:

• Make an 'eat me first' spot in your fridge - Put leftovers in a place you will see every time you open the fridge. Label a plate or sealed container as 'eat me first'.
• Freeze your leftovers - Most leftover meals can be frozen. Freeze leftovers to eat when you don't feel like cooking. Label them clearly with food and date.
• Lazy lunch - Eating leftovers for lunch is quick and easy and can save you money.
• Store correctly - Read our smart food storage tips to feel more confident about storing leftovers safely.
• Shop from the fridge - Before heading to the supermarket, check what's in your fridge before you write your shopping list. This will help you to only buy food you need and will consume
• Build a leftovers night into your meal plan - If you expect to have some leftovers during your meal plan period, make a plan to eat them. Dedicate one night a week to a dinner made up of leftovers and give yourself a night off cooking!