Foods families most regularly throw away - including leftovers and fresh fruit

Everyone loves a snack, but what kind of snacker are you?

Are you a Super Snacker? Working through the cupboards each day on the hunt for goodies – snacking is your life.

Or could you be a Resourceful Snack Snaffler? Picking through the kids’ lunchboxes after school, an uneaten fishfinger at tea-time or an ancient sweet found in a handbag – it’s all going in.

It comes after research found families spend a fifth of their food budget – more than £1,200 each year – on snacks.

Beating the 'snack rut'

The study of 1,800 adults found households whose kids, aged under 18, are still at home munch through 1,872 snacks each year.

And parents estimate 21 per cent of their weekly shopping is purely nibbles for the household.

Although 53 per cent feel they’re stuck in a ‘snack rut’ as they typically buy the same things to tuck into.

Not being able to think of anything different to buy and some members of the family being fussy were among the reasons parents felt they were stuck in the snacking doldrums.

The research was commissioned by savoury cracker brand Jacob’s, which has partnered with EastEnders actor, Jac Jossa, and ‘waste disruptor’ chef, Martyn Odell, to launch the Less Waste More Taste Snackademy.

This is designed to help families save money and reduce food waste by being more resourceful with their snacks.

It comes after the study also revealed 49 per cent of parents throw uneaten food away, with 47 per cent admitting it is often still edible.

Although 53 per cent feel guilty about doing so.

Mum-of-two, Jac Jossa, said: “As a busy mum, there are sometimes moments when it’s easier to grab ready-made snacks, especially on a day where the kids are being fussy or want to eat different things.

“However, I’ve learnt some really easy, tasty and quick recipes made from the stuff in the back of the fridge or cupboard that everyone can have up their sleeve.

“Using up these ingredients can help to reduce food waste and save money throughout the year.

“I’m really excited to be launching the Jacob’s Snackademy with Martyn to help inspire families to turn their leftovers into tasty snacks.”

Turning 'nothing' into something

The study also found that of those who throw away food that could still be eaten, 44 per cent regularly bin leftovers from previous meals.

While 37 per cent don’t get through all the fresh fruit they buy, and 36 per cent have the same problem with veg, the study via OnePoll found.

But a third have thrown away food because they bought too much, and it went out of date before it was consumed.

And 41 per cent throw away food because they have left items to go stale with packets opened for too long.

A quarter of those polled also admitted they don’t know what to do with a small amount of food left over – so chuck it out instead.

Sustainable chef, Martyn Odell, said: “One of the best ways to fight food waste is to be more resourceful with the food you have.

“The recipes I’ve created all showcase how, with just a humble cracker, you can quickly knock up fresh and delicious snacks using food you already have at home.

“The snacks are a great way to use up all those little bits and bobs leftover in your fridge that you may not know what to do with and so often throw away.”

Kate Stokes, for Jacob’s, said: “We’re on a mission to help families achieve less waste and more taste by showing how they can turn food which would otherwise go to waste into delicious snacks, transforming food found in the average fridge.

“The Less Waste, More Taste Snackademy is just one way in which we’re helping families to tackle food waste and supports our partnership with FareShare to redistribute the equivalent of 40,000 meals to help fight hunger.”

Martyn and Jac’s recipes can be seen at Jacob’s Instagram channel @jacobsofficialuk, and include a garlic and rosemary white bean dip, sundried tomato and cream cheese, chargrilled marinated veg and frozen minted peas with fish fingers.

Foods families most regularly throw away

1. Leftovers
2. Fresh fruit
3. Fresh vegetables
4. Bread/ toast (including crumpets, muffins, waffles)
5. Yoghurt
6. Cold cuts of meat
7. Cheese
8. Dips
9. Quick noodles/ rice
10. Sandwiches
11. Baked goods like pastries or cakes
12. Dried fruit
13. Pre-packaged deli snacks (like olives)
14. Pre-packaged sweet snacks (like biscuits, chocolate, sweets)
15. Frozen snacks (like ice cream or lollies)
16. Crackers
17. Snack bars
18. Pre-packaged salty snacks (like crisps)
19. Nuts or seeds
20. Raw mea