Step 2: Plan, prepare and purchase
The best way to avoid food waste and save money is to planning before you shop, be prepared when you get there and make smart buying choices.
Meal planning and shopping to the plan will help you:
- Save money: stick to a meal plan to avoid buying food that will end up in the bin and not give in to impulse buys.
- Save time: spend less time thinking about what to cook, looking for ingredients you might not have, or making an extra trip to the supermarket.
- Save stress: step into the kitchen with confidence, knowing what you're going to cook and avoid ‘What’s for dinner?’ each night.
Plan your meals
- How many meals do you need to cook this week and for how many people? Who’s home on what nights? Don’t forget to think about how many lunches you will need.
- What meals would you like to cook for the week ahead? Write down the ingredients you will need.
- Can you make extra and use the leftovers for lunches or another dinner?
- Can any of the meals be frozen for future use (think soups, casseroles, curries)?
Prepare your shopping list
- Your shopping list should match your meal plan. Only buy what you need.
- Write down how much you need of each item. For example, if your household only eats 2 tomatoes a week in salads, don’t buy 6.
- Check your pantry, fridge and freezer before you go so you don’t buy what you already have.
- Don’t shop when you’re hungry! You’re far more likely to buy extras and junk food if your stomach is rumbling.
Purchase only what you need
- Don’t buy in bulk if you’re not going to use it. You won’t save money if you throw it out, even if it was cheaper per kilo in the first place.
- Do buy in bulk and save on packaging if you can store what you buy properly.
- Check the 'Use by' and 'Best before' dates to make sure you have enough time to use the product.
- Don’t put the heavy items on top of the soft or squishy ones. Avoid bruising and ruining fruit and veggies with smart packing.
- Avoid ’just-in-case’ purchases. You can always go back for something if you end up needing it.
If you really want to upsize your waste reduction at the shops, don’t forget to take reusable produce bags and keep packaging out of landfill.
To help with planning and shopping, use our Meal plan and shopping list(PDF, 96KB)
Next step
Now that you are planning your meals and shopping from the plan, you are ready for Step 3. Keep it fresh will help you conquer food waste in the kitchen.
Step 3: Keep food fresh