Look first
Check the fridge, freezer and cupboard before deciding what to buy or cook.
A practical food and nutrition guide
Good food deserves a better ending.
Taste The Waste explores how everyday choices—from shopping and storage to cooking and sharing—can keep useful food on the table and out of the bin.
Plan less. Notice more. Use what you already have.
About this site
A clear guide to valuing food
Taste The Waste about food waste, nutrition-minded meal planning and community responses. It brings together film material, practical explainers and an archive of projects that helped make food waste visible.
The focus is useful action rather than perfection: understanding labels, making flexible meals and building habits that fit real households.
What’s included
- Simple planning and storage guidance
- Ideas for using vegetables, grains and leftovers
- Background on food systems and education
- An editorial archive of initiatives and resources
How we work
Four habits, one calmer kitchen
Start with the food you have, then make small decisions in an order that prevents forgotten ingredients.
Plan loosely
Choose adaptable meals and leave space for ingredients that need using soon.
Store clearly
Keep frequently missed items visible, label frozen portions and rotate older food forward.
Use creatively
Turn small portions into soups, sauces, grain bowls or fillings while food remains safe to eat.
Everyday essentials
Food knowledge that travels well
These principles support varied, enjoyable meals without demanding a rigid routine.
Buy with a purpose
Use a short list based on existing food and realistic portions, not idealized weekly plans.
Make freshness visible
Create a “use first” area and follow storage instructions to protect quality and safety.
Build balanced plates
Combine vegetables or fruit, a protein source and grains or other starchy foods, adapting to dietary needs.
Cool and reuse safely
Refrigerate promptly, keep portions covered and reheat according to appropriate food-safety guidance.
Selected
Stories that moved the conversation
Revisited in 2026, these entries document films, learning resources and community efforts around food systems.
Feeding a growing world
A film entry considers agriculture, distribution and the choices shaping access to food.
Read the film entry
Connecting people with regional food
A look back at a digital platform designed to make local producers and food knowledge easier to find.
Explore the platform story
A different route from farm to table
This story follows the arrival of a community distribution model linking buyers with producers.
Read about the initiative
The film
Following food from field to bin
The film section introduces a documentary investigation into why edible food is discarded across households, retail and supply chains. The material is presented as historical context for today’s continuing food-waste discussion.
View film informationMore from the website
Learning, organizing and practical action
Frequently asked questions
Start with what’s manageable
What is the easiest first step?
Choose one visible “use first” shelf in the fridge. Check it before preparing a meal and before shopping.
Does a date label always mean food must be discarded?
Labels serve different purposes. Follow local food-safety guidance and distinguish quality guidance from safety-related instructions. Never taste food to test whether a safety date can be ignored.
How can meal planning stay flexible?
Plan a few adaptable meal formats rather than assigning every ingredient to a fixed day. Soups, salads, pasta dishes and grain bowls can accommodate changing supplies.
How should leftovers be handled?
Cool and store them promptly in clean, covered containers. Label portions and follow authoritative local advice on refrigeration, freezing and reheating.
Is imperfect produce less nutritious?
Appearance alone does not determine nutritional value. Cosmetic variation can be normal, but signs of spoilage or unsafe handling should never be overlooked.
Where can journalists find background information?
The press area collects editorial background and reference material related to the project.