Leftover expert shares four ways to cut food waste

On the UN’s International Day of Food Loss and Waste, DR visited Kiri Lassen Jensen, who runs the Instagram account Mit Resteri, to gather her advice on keeping food out of the bin.

Jensen calls herself an “expert in leftovers”. Her four tips include finding creative uses for food, keeping leftovers visible and serving smaller portions.

1. Save more leftovers

More foods can be kept and reused than many people think, Jensen says. She has turned leftover porridge into crispbread and soft tomatoes into pasta sauce. Even flat soda can be frozen and later used in a drink or homemade slush ice.

2. Keep an “eat me” box

Jensen puts odds and ends, such as leftover mayonnaise from McDonald’s, in a box so they are not forgotten. She says clear containers are especially useful: keeping leftovers at eye level makes them harder to overlook.

3. Keep track of what you throw away

Writing down what ends up in the bin can help identify habits. If you often throw away rye bread, Jensen suggests taking out only the slices you need and freezing the rest.

4. Use smaller plates

If family members often leave food on their plates, try smaller plates or serve portions individually, she says.