Students learn how to eat well and cut out food waste

In support of National Climate Week, the Love Food Hate Waste Project for Yorkshire and the Humber is rolling out a series of events where students at five of the region’s universities will enjoy a feast of free food that would have otherwise been destined for the rubbish bin.

Cash-strapped students will have the chance to tuck into a delicious menu designed to show the range of food wasted daily. Dishes such as sausage and bacon pasta, vegetable curry and rice or a poached fruit dessert will be available throughout the day.

The tour kicked off yesterday at the University of Bradford, where 1,000 hungry students were fed on the same volume of food thrown away by a typical UK household every year – enough to make 1,000 meals.

It will then visit the University of York on Thursday, Leeds Metropolitan University on Tuesday March 22 and the University of Leeds on Friday March 25 before concluding at Sheffield Hallam University on Thursday March 31.

Alongside the free meals, students will be treated to cookery demonstrations throughout the day from Yorkshire’s celebrity chef Richard Fox, who will transform everyday leftovers into new and exciting dishes. “It’s about fab food from leftovers and store cupboard staples,” says Richard.

“With a few simple tips, advice and principles you can start to mix, match and combine to create gastro meals in minutes. It’s fun, incredibly tasty and won’t just save you loads of cash – you’ll be saving the planet too.”

The average British household unnecessarily throws away food worth £480 every year (this increases to £680 for families with children). And it’s not just peelings and bones. Most of this is good food, like bread, meat, cheese and vegetables that we buy but simply don’t get round to eating.

Briony Pete, co-ordinator for the region’s Love Food Hate Waste project, said: “It’s shocking the amount of food we waste as a nation and it’s often difficult to visualise, but try and look at it this way – imagine 10 Wembley stadiums filled to the brim with food, that’s how much food is bought but never enjoyed.

“And think about where it’s come from too – how far has that food item travelled to then end up needlessly in the bin.

“But we’re not just focusing on the problem here; simple, positive solutions are the essence of the campaign and we want to show everybody how easy, cost effective and tasty it can be to cook, eat and live the Love Food Hate Waste way.

“And it’s not just students that can benefit from this great advice. With a little bit of planning and confidence in the kitchen, you too can banish food waste; saving yourself time and money and helping the environment,” she said.

The event first ran at the University of Hull last September to great success where 1,000 students got a free meal – all from food that was normally thrown away.

Students tucked into smoky sausage and bacon pasta, vegetable curry with rice and fruit crumble for dessert.

The whole menu was designed to show the range of food that is wasted; from meat, vegetables and grains to fresh, dried and tinned food.

The event has now been shortlisted into the final four for Best Event category at the National Climate Week Awards to be announced at the launch of Climate Week on Monday, March 21, in London.

For more information visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com to find out how you can save up to £50 per month.