This year, we are making the holiday season easier with a food portion calculator, developed with the professional support of the Hungarian Dietetic Association (MDOSZ). The calculator is now live on our website, in Hungarian. It helps households calculate how much food they should prepare to avoid food waste. We will also provide a live demonstration of the calculator during a webinar on 4 December.
The latest survey by the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) revealed that a Hungarian family of four produces an average of 239 kilograms of food waste per year, much of which could be prevented. Food waste typically increases during the Christmas season. The primary reason is the tendency to overplan holiday menus, resulting in the purchase and preparation of excessive amounts of food.
A few simple habits can help us in reducing food waste during the holiday season. One useful step before Christmas is to clear out and organize our fridge and freezer so there’s enough space for holiday ingredients and leftovers. We can also save time by planning meals that use the frozen ingredients we already have – either in the weeks leading up to Christmas or even as part of the holiday menu. Many traditional Hungarian Christmas desserts, such as bejgli or hókifli, can be prepared well in advance and stored in the freezer until the holidays.
Our food portion calculator is another useful tool for reducing food waste. It serves as a guide, showing the realistic amount of ingredients needed for different age groups. This makes menu and shopping planning easier and helps prevent overbuying or overcooking. For example, the calculator recommends preparing about 450 grams of rice as a side dish for five adults, or roughly 360 grams for two adults and three elementary-school children, to avoid unnecessary leftovers. The database behind the calculator was developed with professional help from MDOSZ.
The portion calculator will be introduced in a free webinar on December 4 2025.