According to research by Kantar Public on behalf of Too Good To Go, Poles intend to save money this Christmas. However, some food will likely end up in our rubbish bins anyway, which has become one of our worst "Christmas traditions".

But there are some simple ways to make use of the leftover food. You don't have to eat it all in a hurry, as better options are available for the Christmas food that was meant to be thrown away.

A recent study commissioned by Too Good To Go, conducted by Kantar Public, revealed that some people are cutting down on certain types of food, such as carp and Greek-style fish, to save costs. Unfortunately, this often leads to excess food being thrown away.

After Christmas, the most commonly wasted food items are vegetable salads, bread, vegetables, and fruit. Freezing salad is not recommended, but if you want to keep it fresh longer, adding mayonnaise only after you've had your fill is best. Bread, on the other hand, can be turned into croutons, bread pudding, or soup and can also be safely frozen.

Leftover dumplings, soups, beans, and cakes can also be frozen. Cabbage and bigos can be preserved by bottling them in jars, while dried fruit can be turned into fruitcakes. You can also grind up leftover ham and turn it into pâté. Limp lettuce and root vegetables can be revived in a cold water bath, while excess fruit can be used for infusions or cocktails. And carp can be turned into a fish casserole.

If you're a vegan, don't worry - most of your Christmas Eve vegetable dishes can be safely frozen, too. As you can see, many ways exist to avoid wasting food and give it a second life.

If you have leftover food after Christmas that you don't want to process, you can consider donating it to various food outlets in your area. You might be unaware, but community fridges are emerging in many places, including near churches. You can find a map of social fridges on the Weźpomóż.pl foundation website. However, these are not the only fridges available in Poland. You can also find fridges in Wrocław, Łódź, and the capital city. If you don't know where to find a fridge or food donation point in your city, try searching on Google.

When donating food, remember to follow one basic rule: only donate food that you yourself would like to eat. If something is already stale, it's better to throw it away. When planning your Christmas in the future, take the advice of the Food Bank, responsible for the smallest Christmas tree in Lithuania. Before you start cooking, consider how many people will attend and how many dishes you should prepare. Remember, less is more, and precaution is more effective.