Seven ways to save money and reduce food waste using food scraps

We’ve put together a list of food waste hacks to help you stretch your budget and make the most out of your groceries.

According to the Waste Resources and Action Program (WRAP), a typical family with children wastes the equivalent of 8 meals a week on average, costing around £60 per month1. If you’re looking for more ways to stretch your budget and reduce food waste, but still eat nutritious and delicious meals, here are our tips on ‘scrappy cooking’ to help you live vegan for less. 

Swap ready-made snacks for homemade potato-peel crisps 

Instead of buying branded packets of crisps from the shop, save leftover potato peels from dinner and use them to create your own homemade crisps. This requires minimal effort and only a couple of ingredients. It takes approximately 10–15 minutes to make, so not only is it quick and easy, but it’s also a cheaper and healthier option. 

Start using broccoli stems 

Surprisingly, broccoli stems can be used in a number of simple recipes, including homemade bhajis and crunchy chips. They can even be chopped up and used in soups and stews for that extra nutrition boost. Quick and easy recipes can be found online. Many require minimal ingredients, which is even better for your budget.  

Cook up a vegetable broth using veggie scraps 

Stop throwing out your vegetable scraps and instead use them to make a vegan-friendly broth to add to soups, stews, pasta dishes and more. Simply save vegetable scraps such as onion and garlic skins, pepper heads and carrot peels, pop them in a bag in your freezer and when it’s full add the scraps to a pot of water to simmer for a few hours. Once the stock is ready and has been drained, it will keep fresh for a day or two, or can be frozen for future use. Having your own homemade broth means you no longer need to worry about buying stock cubes or powder, saving you that little bit more. 

Make your own seasonings using onion and garlic skins 

Onion and garlic skins are not only a great addition to homemade broths, but they can also be used to create your own homemade powders, helping you to avoid pricey supermarket choices. The result is perfect for seasoning future recipes with! 

Brew homemade apple cider vinegar using apple cores 

Instead of throwing out your apple cores, try making your own apple cider vinegar. All you need is some water, sugar, a mason jar and a couple weeks' time for the fermentation process to take place. Not only is it super simple and easy to make, but you can make a lot which can be stored for a long time, helping you save extra cash. 

 Revive stale bread/tortillas 

Bread is one of the most commonly wasted foods, but did you know you can bring stale loaves of bread back to life? A quick Google can help you find plenty of methods for revitalising your bread, including how to make taco bowls from stale tortillas. 

Make your own vegan ice cream using overripe bananas 

Did you know you can preserve bananas by using them to make your own homemade ice cream? All you need is your overripe bananas, some plant-based milk and a blender. Store the ice cream in the freezer for the next time you’re craving a sweet and healthy treat. 

We hope this list has given you an appetite to discover more about scrappy cooking and try out some of the many creative recipes out there. For more helpful tips and resources to maintain a healthy vegan diet on a budget, check out our Live Vegan for Less campaign resources and follow #LiveVeganForLess on socials.