The average family wastes about £50 of food every month and with Christmas turkey and all the  trimmings the amount wasted in December and January is thought to be even higher.

Looking for alternatives to the classic Boxing Day sandwich with left over cranberry sauce, gravy and mayo? Here are some ideas to help use up all that left over turkey.

1. Turkey Soup – Take that turkey carcass and all the bits of meat clinging and cook for an hour with some onions, carrots and celery to make a great stock. Remove the bones and add some turkey meat, parsnips, potatoes, spelt or pearl barley, rice or pasta to make a delicious hearty soup.

2. Turkey Salad – This recipe calls for spinach, tomatoes, yellow peppers and mushrooms but use salad veg of your choice or what’s in your fridge already. Add dressing.

3. Turkey Corn Tacos – Shred turkey and heat up in a little olive oil. Use in a corn taco as you’d normally use beef or chicken. Add some soured cream, cheese, salsa and lettuce.

4. Asian inspired salad – saw Jamie knock this one up on telly the other day. Looked so easy. Definitely one on my list to try.

5. Turkey and leek pie – I’ve made this many times with turkey or chicken. It is truly delicious and comforting.

6. Turkey Chilli I love to throw together a chilli. Some beans (usually kidney, but sometimes black, or pinto, a tin of chopped tomatoes. Add some onions, garlic, then tabasco and chilli powder.

7. Turkey Risotto Stuffed Tomatoes. Follow the recipe for risotto. Add the cooked turkey half way through. Stuff your peppers, top with cheese and bake.

8. Turkey Stir Fry. Turkey is not a meat that comes to mind when thinking of stir fry, but it’s actually good. Soak the already-cooked turkey in the stir-fry marinade of your choice. Stir fry your vegetables (frozen will do) . Add the turkey near the end, so it has a chance to heat up but not dry out. Eat over rice or Japanese noodles.

9. Turkey pasta pesto. Fry some chopped onion and garlic with diced leftover turkey. Add some hot cooked pasta, a dollop of pesto sauce and parmesan. Season to taste. Went down well with the kids today at lunchtime.

10. Bang bang turkey. Turkey and noodles in a spicy sauce.

The love food hate waste site has a great recipe tool for left overs, tell it your main ingredients and it will give you the recipe.