SHOW that you love food and hate waste by making the most of your Christmas leftovers — that's the message from the Isle of Wight Council.


The council, and waste collector Amey, have teamed up with Island chef Rachel Brown to take an education trailer on the road in the run up to the festive period and demonstrate recipes using traditional festive leftovers. 

The Christmas Food Roadshow will be in St Thomas Square, Newport, between 11am and 4pm on December 7 and 10.

It will then roll into the Cowes Yacht Haven for the Cowes Christmas Festival December 17 and 18.

Recipes on show will include how you can use leftover turkey, sausages, bacon, apples and even Christmas pudding. 

Executive member for environment and local engagement, Cllr Paul Fuller, said: "Food waste costs the average person £200 a year and the average family a whopping £700 a year.

"By learning to love your leftovers, being more aware of how to store food and understanding food labelling better, it can make a real difference to your pocket. 

"This time of year puts a strain on everyone’s bank balance, so I’m sure the Christmas Food Roadshow and chef Rachel Brown will help you to make the most of your leftovers and you can pick up your free recipe card at the same time." 

Paul Southall, account director for Amey on the Isle of Wight, said: "We thought it would be a bit different to take our education trailer out and show people how they can use leftovers by demonstrating a few recipes and giving people a chance to sample the food and is something we’re looking forward to." 

The last study into what the Island's waste is made up of found that an average 15 per cent of black bag waste was food waste that could have been avoided.

Here's some of The Christmas Food Roadshow's top tips for making the most of your food:
 Keep vegetables and fruits in the bag they came in as this makes them last longer
 Those Christmas cheese and biscuit nibbles keep longer in a re-sealable bag or in a tub
 Food past its 'display until’ date is fine to use as this date is s only for shop staff
 'Best before’ dates are only a guide and the food is still ok to eat after this date
 Only food past its 'use by’ date should not be used

A lot of food packaging can also be recycled in the green bin or green gull proof sack, such as:
 The plastic wrapping often used to cover food such as chicken or turkey
 Plastic food tubs
 Foil used to cover butter
 Clean tin foil
 Pringles tubes
Drinks cartons 

The Love Food Hate Waste website features a range of recipes, advice, guidance and tips for helping to reduce food waste and reduce the amount you spend. Find out more at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

For more information about waste and recycling, visit www.iwight.com/waste