Here are six ways to get those leftovers eaten. I cannot waste food. I gasp - audibly gasp - when someone throws away a broccoli stalk. Picture me dive-rolling in slow motion to catch a brown banana before it hits the bin. Big family occasions like Christmas are a real hurdle for me - my mum and dad are massive over-caterers (because is there ever really such a thing as too many dumplings?). They want to make sure people feel fed and watered and welcome. That means abundant, glorious food, but also cold sweats as I picture it mouldering in their fridge. Lucky for me I’m not the only person in my family who hates food waste - we’re our own mini support-group slash food-savers. And we could do with a few more of those – 4 million festive dinners are thrown away each year, just in the UK alone! And us Kiwis? Well, we throw out over 155,000 tonnes of food each year, with nearly 13,000 tonnes being leftovers. That’s one heck of a doggy bag. Here are my top tips from my years of obsessive food saving - so together we can get those numbers lower. Prep your fridge and freezer Leftovers are great! Some dishes taste even better the next day, but yes, they need to be wrapped properly and kept cold to keep them in tip-top condition. In the lead-up to the big event, free up space in your fridge and freezer - it’s about to get really cosy in there. Get rid of space wasters - slicker packs, half-empty ice trays, almost-empty ice cream containers (you might need to eat the last few mouthfuls, sorry). You might be surprised by what can be frozen and for how long. Check out our blog on how to store food here. Having meals frozen doesn’t just save food – it’s also awesome for lazy days when you don’t feel like cooking, or to bulk out dinners when people drop in unexpectedly. Don’t forget to label everything! Send home doggy-bag containers If you’re absolutely stuffed, it can be inconceivable that you’d ever want to eat again - especially the food you've just eaten. If you’re left with a pile of leftovers, don’t just shove them into the fridge and forget about them until it starts to smell like feet in there. Instead, get out all your old jars and containers, and send guests home with make-their-own doggy bags. Along the same lines, you can take your own containers to help your hosts clear the food. Get creative in the kitchen! Despite your careful planning and giving out everyone their own container of food to take home, there might still be leftover food that isn’t suitable for freezing. Now’s the time to get creative. Get those Googling fingers working and search “using up <insert food here>” for heaps of recipe ideas. Turn roast veggies into salads and frittatas. Chuck things on pizza, put it in fritters, or fill up wraps for lunch. And in the unlikely event of leftover cake? Well, just add coffee for the breakfast of champions. Don’t dress salads Who said you can’t save salads? You can! Just get guests to dress their own portion - that leaves any leftovers untouched by the wilting power of vinegar, and easily stored. Have a second party! You don’t have to tell me twice. How about starting a leftovers-party tradition for after big events? Invite friends to BYO leftovers and share each other’s bounty. Feed your wormy friends Sometimes food just has to go in the bin (cry), but it doesn’t have to go to waste! Pop it into your compost or worm farm - remember that things like citrus, garlic and onions aren’t worm-friendly, but will be ok for them after being broken down in a compost heap. Get ready for a waste-free Christmas If you’re serious about cutting food waste, it’s time to get ready for the Christmas onslaught of leftovers. Make room in your fridge and freezer, save those containers and jars to send leftovers home with your guests, and take containers to other feasts. Repurpose what you can’t store and share the love (of food) by throwing leftover parties. Make that last one a tradition and you’re on to a good thing. If all else fails and you just have to throw food away, make sure it gets composted or feeds those hungry worms. Whatever you do about Christmas leftovers, don’t stress - just be ready! Happy Holidays from all of us at Ethique HQ! Sources:Portocarrero, M (2015, December 4). Christmas food waste: over 4 million festive dinners are thrown away each year. independent.co.uk Love food, hate waste NZ. How much food do we actually waste? lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz