Join Food Waste Action Week (FWAW) March 6-12!

Did you know: Avoidable food waste costs the average Canadian household $1300 every year. That equates to 2.3 million tonnes of edible food going to landfills instead of families; that amounts to $20 billion in food waste in Canada alone each year! What a waste!

It’s time to reframe our thinking about leftovers and start treating them like the mealtime superheroes they are.

Food Waste Action Week (FWAW) is an annual global collaboration led by Love Food Hate Waste International Partners, running from March 6 – March 12. The Recycling Council of Alberta is one of the partners and we are sharing this information for those who are interested in engaging online to promote this campaign.

This year’s event will drive home the message: Win. Don’t Bin. Save money and time by making the most of the food you buy.

Each day, the Love Food Hate Waste (LFHW) Canada team will share food-saving tips to inspire Canadians to make the most of the food they buy. The Communications Kit includes sample messaging and links to creative assets that you can use on your social platforms and communications.

Please use #FoodWasteActionWeek, #lovefoodhatewastecanada and/or #windontbin in all messaging to allow us to track our collective impact.

LFHW is led and delivered by the National Zero Waste Council, in collaboration with the following campaign partners: The Recycling Council of Alberta, City of Toronto, City of Vancouver, City of Winnipeg, RECYC-QUÉBEC, the Capital Regional District, Metro Vancouver, and major Canadian food retailer, Walmart Canada.

To find out more about how the RCA can help you roll out LFHW initiatives in your community, reach us today! info@recycle.ab.ca.

For a list of tips and tricks:

Plan for the Right Amount: Instead of leaving leftovers to chance, be strategic about them when meal planning. Plan a meal dedicated to using up leftovers then use our portion size guide to ensure you make enough ingredients for two meals. Or, if you really don’t like leftovers, use the portion guide to make just enough to avoid leftovers altogether.
Simply Reheat: The easiest way to use up leftovers is to simply reheat them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Here’s how:
- Microwave – Loosely cover food so steam can escape, add a little liquid to keep it moist, and reheat in short intervals, stirring in between, until the desired temperature is reached.
- Stovetop – Add food to pot or pan, add a small amount of liquid if needed, and heat on low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
- Oven – Transfer food to a heatproof dish, cover with foil and heat at 180°C/350°F for 20-30 minutes or until heated through. Add a little liquid if needed and stir occasionally.
Repurpose into Something New: Get creative and turn your leftovers into new meal ideas like these:
- Make a frittata or omelette. Mix leftover vegetables, meats, and grains into beaten eggs and cook in a skillet. Try Breakfast Muffin Frittatas.
- Use leftover cooked meats to make sandwiches, wraps, or salads, like this Chicken Salad.
- Make a pasta dish like this Versatile Lasagna to use up leftover veggies, meat and sauces.
- Make a stir-fry. Combine leftover vegetables and meats with a sauce and cook in a large skillet for a quick and easy dinner. Try this Speedy Beef Stir Fry.
- Make soups, stews or curries. Follow our tips for Making Soup without a Recipe.
  
  For more inspiration enter your leftover food or ingredient in our recipe search bar or read 5 Ways with Commonly Wasted Foods.
Store Well for Best Results: Proper storage is key to keeping leftovers fresh and safe to eat. Cool leftovers quickly in a shallow container. Transfer to convenient, portion-sized, airtight containers and put them in the fridge within two hours of cooking. Most leftovers can be safely stored like this for 3-4 days. If you know you can’t eat them within that time, freeze them right away.
Freeze for the Future: If you can’t eat them right away, freeze leftovers. Place them in airtight containers or resealable plastic bags with as little air space as possible. Package in amounts that will be convenient for you to thaw and use. Label clearly with date, contents, and amounts. Frozen leftovers are safe to eat for a long time, but for best quality use them within 3-4 months.