There was an excellent article in the Independent on Sunday yesterday which again underlined the huge amount of food that goes to waste in this country. Apparently some 20m tons of food is thrown out each year: equivalent to half of the food import needs for the whole of Africa. And we consumers, as I've mentioned on the site before, throw away a third of everything we buy.

There are some good tips at the end of the feature for cutting down on the food you end up chucking out - you'll find more on the website Love Food Hate Waste and in my blog The Frugal Cook

If you think about it you could cut your food bills by a third if you used what you buy more effectively.  One of the most useful methods I've found so far is not to attempt to buy a whole week's food at once but to shop every two to three days - or even daily if you have food shops on your doorstep. I also try to make at least one day's meals a week from what I already have in the fridge, freezer and storecupboard.

Buying fruit and veg loose instead of pre-packed and resisting '3 for the price of 2' special offers on perishable goods is also a good way to avoid ending up with unused out-of-date food on your hands.

If you've enjoyed this article why not visit the Beyond Baked Beans page on Facebook where you can contribute your own tips and recipes.