5 Easy Food Hacks to Kick Off the New Year

The start of a new year is the perfect time to reset, refresh, and build small habits that make a big difference, for your wallet, your kitchen, and the planet. If you’re looking for an easy win to kick off the year, start with your food.

Summer is the ideal season to begin new food-saving habits that are simple, satisfying, and sustainable. A few clever tweaks to the way you store, shop, and use food can quickly become second nature, helping you waste less, save more, and feel good about the choices you’re making all year long.

Here are our four top food-saving hacks to help you start the year strong and feel good about every meal.

1. Check What You’ve Got

Before your next grocery run, take a few minutes to check what you’ve got and “shop” your own kitchen. A quick scan of what’s in your fridge, freezer, and pantry is one of the easiest ways to stop waste before it starts.

Look for ingredients that need using soon and plan your meals around them. You might find a half full jar of pasta sauce in the fridge that just needs a handful of fresh veggies, or a bag of rice hidden at the back of the pantry.

Searching your shelves before shopping not only prevents double-ups, but it also saves money, reduces clutter, and helps you make the most of every ingredient you buy. Try keeping a running list on your fridge or phone of what’s already in stock, so you’re less likely to forget what’s hiding at the back.

2. Turn Leftovers into Lunch

Summer get-togethers often mean lots of food and plenty of leftovers. But leftovers don’t have to mean repeat dinners; they’re free ingredients ready to be your next meal, no matter how much is left.

That small scoop of rice from dinner can become a fresh salad bowl with a can of tuna, some chopped veg, and a touch of dressing. Add eggs with roast veggies and turn it into a quick omelette, and leftover meat is perfect in a wrap, sandwich, or salad. Check out more ideas to makeover your leftovers here.

One easy trick: pack leftovers into lunch containers straight after dinner. That way, tomorrow’s lunch is ready to grab and go, no extra effort needed.

3. Make the Most of Your Freezer

Your freezer is your best friend when it comes to saving food and money. It acts as a pause button keeping food fresh for longer and helps you make the most of every bit. You might be surprised by how much you can freeze! From fruit and vegetables to baked goods, sauces, and more, you can freeze more than you think.

Try freezing leftover tomato paste, coconut milk, stock, or fruit purees in ice cube trays. Once frozen, pop the cubes into labelled containers for easy use later — perfect for adding a burst of flavour to soups, curries, or smoothies. Freezing in small amounts means you’ve always got ready-to-use portions on hand you only thaw what you need, helping you waste less and cook smarter.

4. Set Up an “Eat Me First” Shelf

Here’s a quick one that works wonders: create an “Eat Me First” shelf (or box) in your fridge and pantry. This is the spot for anything that needs using soon like open jars, leftovers, opened packets of crackers, cheese close to its date, or fruit and veg that are starting to soften.

Having a clear, visible space for these items helps everyone in the household know what needs using soon and should be eaten first, and a great way to practice FIFO (first in, first out).

Order your free Eat Me First sticker to use on your shelf or a small basket or container or make your own with masking tape and permanent marker, and you’re sorted.

5. Use Digital Tools

Make technology work for you this year! Using digital tools like recipe builders, meal planning apps, and AI can make meal planning, shopping, and food-saving easier than ever. With so many clever apps available, it’s never been simpler to get organised in the kitchen.

Try CookPlan by VJ Cooks, which helps you plan weekly meals, Favour – Your DIY Meal Kit is another great option that lets you pick meals and generates a list of ingredients to shop for. Apps like Recime, Mealime, or Paprika help you save, scale, and organise your favourite recipes.

You can also use AI like ChatGPT to plan meals based on what’s in your fridge and pantry just list a few ingredients and let it suggest ideas. It can also help you turn those ideas into a meal plan, build a shopping list, or suggest creative ways to use up leftovers.

Whether you’re planning a week of dinners or just figuring out what to cook tonight, these smart tools can help you eat well, spend less, and waste less.

Start Small, Save Big

You don’t need a total kitchen overhaul to make a big difference. Just a few small, consistent habits can save you money, reduce waste, and make mealtimes easier.

Start with one of these hacks this week, shop your fridge, pack leftovers, freeze smart, or set up your “Eat Me First” shelf and watch how quickly these habits turn into everyday wins. Your future self (and the planet) will thank you.