Food waste isn't just harmful to our wallets, it hurts the planet, too. Luckily you can do your bit with these simple suggestions for reducing the amount of food your family wastes and throws out each week.

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We've all done it ... reached for food in the fridge and chucked it out because it's past its best.

The same goes for leftovers on the kids' plates – it's sooo much easier to scrape unwanted and untouched veg into the bin, rather than store them for the next day, right?

But wasting food isn't just harmful to your bank balance – thanks to buying more than you actually need – it's also harmful to the planet.

That's because the food we throw out sits in landfill where it emits methane gases, one of the most damaging greenhouse gases driving climate change.

Reducing our food waste is key to stopping this and – luckily – doing so is easier than you may think.

From some simple meal-planning to savvier food shopping habits, here's how you can cut down your family's food waste – and save the planet – starting today.

1. Shop more, buy less

Most of us rely on a weekly shop to feed the family but eco experts recommend shopping more often and buying less each time.

Although it may be convenient to shop weekly, the downside is it can make it harder to use things up in time. It's also more likely than you'll buy more than you need.

Shopping 'little and often' will mean you get into the habit of buying what you need and replacing it when it's been used up, which can help reduce your weekly food waste.

Give it a go!

2. Make a shopping list (and stick to it)

Going to the supermarket with kids in tow can mean you're easily distracted. Especially with cries of 'Mummm, can we get this?' every two minutes.

Before you know it, you've reached the check-out with a whole load of things that you never intended to buy – and they'll probably be forgotten about once you get home and never eaten.

That's where a good old-fashioned shopping list can help.

Whether you use pen and paper or an app on your phone, keep a shopping list on the go that you can amend, ready for each time you shop – and then stick to it.

Getting the kids to help tick off the list so they're not distracted by the things you don't need should help, too.

Why not make a weekly meal plan to help streamline your shopping list? We like this one that's available at Amazon.

3. Store food carefully and correctly

If you're chucking out food because it's gone stale or spoilt in the fridge, make sure you're storing it correctly by investing in some reusable airtight containers or freezer bags to keep things as fresh as possible. You'll really notice the difference!

Food experts also recommend lining your salad drawers with kitchen roll to absorb moisture, keeping fruit and veg fresher for longer.

Keep bananas away from other fruit to stop things ripening too quickly. And store herbs in a glass of water on the window sill, not in the packet it comes in.

4. Make clever choices

What you put into your shopping trolley can make a huge difference too.

For instance, Quorn products such as Mince Pieces and Nuggets have been certified by the Carbon Trust. Enjoying meals made with these means that, over time, they'll help you reduce your carbon footprint – a clever choice for the health of the planet and your family, too.

Find out more here .

Other clever choices to avoid food waste include stocking up on wonky vegetables.

They often go to waste because people don't like the look of them. But the kids won't know any different once they're chopped into their favourite soup or stew – and they'll probably give everyone a giggle, too!

5. Learn what to do with leftovers

Getting creative with leftovers is key when it comes to cutting down your family's food waste so why not try these tips:

• If no one fancied tonight's broccoli or you made too much fish, don't chuck it – save it for a stir-fry tomorrow.
• Got loads of veg left that you haven't managed to get through this week? Make a soup and freeze it.
• Blitz up stale bread into breadcrumbs for homemade fish fingers.
• Too many mushy bananas left uneaten? Roast them, bake into banana bread or muffins ... the possibilities are endless and there are tons of ideas for using up leftovers online.

6. Waste not, want not (when eating out)

There's no need to waste food when you eat out either.

If the kids are often defeated by huge portions in restaurants or simply aren't hungry, take along a Tupperware and ask to take it home for later!

Just make sure you chill it in the fridge and reheat it until it's piping hot, before you eat it.

7. Think before you throw

Before you do throw away food, just double check you REALLY need to.

If it has a 'best before' date on it and seems ok and looks ok then keeping it an extra day or two is fine. Just remember to use it asap!

'Use by' dates do work a bit differently. As these are devised for safety, the Food Standards Agency doesn't recommend keeping foods past this date.

It says:

'The food could be unsafe to eat or drink, even if it has been stored correctly and looks and smells fine.'

However, it also says that some foods like meat and milk are fine to freeze on or before the 'use by' date so if you're not going to get around to using them, freeze them – don't chuck!

Has this made you change your views on food waste? Will you try to follow any of our suggestions?

Get tips from other parents about what they do to help the planet in our chat thread below ...

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