Eat leftovers once a week

Last updated: 19 October 2023
Share
Hands putting toppings on a pizza using leftovers.

Small acts are all it takes to make a big impact

Food waste comes at a big cost, both for your bank account and for the planet. But you can reduce food going to waste – and save yourself precious time and money – simply by planning to eat leftovers once a week.

It’s a small act with a big impact on Victoria’s sustainable future.

Why it matters

Food waste in Victoria

  • Each year, Victorian households throw away 250,000 tonnes of edible food – enough to fill Melbourne’s Eureka Tower.
  • The average household in Victoria throws away $2,600 a year in wasted food.
  • Almost two thirds of the food Victorian households throw away could have been eaten.

(Sustainability Victoria, Path to Half Report, 2020)

The environmental impact

Food thrown into your general rubbish bin ends up in landfill. Food in landfill breaks down in a way that creates greenhouse gases, including methane, which affects air quality and public health. When we waste food, we also waste the resources used to grow our food (water, soils and energy) and all the energy used to process, package and transport food from farms to markets to our homes.

Tips and tricks

Give your leftovers a makeover

There are lots of creative ways to use up leftovers:

  • Make croutons from stale bread to add crunch to a salad or soup or whizz it up into breadcrumbs (use in schnitzels, meatballs or vegetable bakes).
  • Use roast meats or deli meats and cheeses to make a tasty toastie.
  • Toss chopped vegetables into a simple stir-fry or hearty stew.
  • Blend overripe fruits into a smoothie or use them for baking.

Check out some tasty recipes using leftovers from cook and author Julia Busuttil Nishimura further down the page.

You can also do a quick search on ingredients for inspiration or check out quick and easy recipes from OzHarvest to transform commonly wasted ingredients into tasty meals.

Get organised

Planning meals, shopping smart and storing food correctly can help you reduce food waste and save money.

Organise your pantry, fridge and freezer so it’s easy to see food that needs to be eaten.

Plan ahead

Before you go food shopping, check what you already have and plan a meal that combines ingredients that need to be used.

When planning meals for the week, try to choose recipes with similar ingredients. Need half a tub of cream on Monday? Plan a dish that needs the other half for another day.

Store food right

Find out how to store fresh produce so that it lasts until you’re ready to use it. It is possible to keep celery and carrots crunchy.

After cooking, store leftovers in well-sealed, clear and labelled containers. Freeze any portions that will not be eaten within the next 3 to 4 days. Then enjoy them when you need a night off cooking or a grab-and-go work lunch.

Julia's leftovers recipes

Use up commonly wasted food items with these delicious recipes from Melbourne-based cook and author Julia Busuttil Nishimura.

Find a small act that works for you

There are many easy ways to reduce waste and recycle more. Find small acts that work for you and be part of Victoria’s sustainable future.