What We Eat
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Support local farmers and producers and reduce food miles and carbon emissions by purchasing seasonal produce from farmers’ markets, local farm shops, or consider growing your own food in a garden or allotment to further minimise your environmental impact and save money. Eating locally and seasonally reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with long-distance transportation.
Tips for incorporating seasonal fruits and vegetables in your diet.
The British Dietetic Association have these tips for a diet that’s healthier for you and the planet.
Explore seasonal food guides and gardening tips.
Love British Food have a downloadable, printable factsheet on what to eat when.
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Minimising food waste not only saves money but also reduces methane emissions from landfills. Plan meals, store food properly, and use leftovers creatively to extend the life of your groceries. When you do have food waste, compost it. Composting organic waste diverts it from landfills and contributes to nutrient-rich soil for gardening.
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Utilise energy-efficient appliances like slow cookers to reduce energy consumption in the kitchen. Slow cookers use less electricity than traditional ovens and can help save on household energy bills. At a typical cost of 7p per hour compared to 70p for an electric oven, they are a much cheaper way to cook food.
Learn about the energy-saving benefits of using a slow cooker.
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An easy and cost-effective way to reduce food waste and carbon emissions is by purchasing frozen fruit and vegetables. These products can be shipped by sea or rail instead of air, significantly lowering their carbon footprint. Frozen produce lasts longer in your freezer, helping to reduce food waste. Additionally, they are often more nutritious than fresh produce as they are frozen immediately after being picked.
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Make use of the Community Fridge at Community House to reduce food waste. The Community Fridge is a place where everyone can share surplus food, including donations from local food businesses, producers, households and gardens.
Information on accessing the Community Fridge and its benefits for the community.
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This is the one which could have the most impact on your carbon footprint, You don’t have to go full vegan, or even full vegetarian. You could start gradually to cut down on meat and dairy consumption to reduce carbon emissions associated with livestock farming. Starting with having one meat free day a week, or cutting down on how much red meat in particular you eat and gradually transition to a more sustainable diet. You could cut down how much dairy you eat too, slowly. Cows in particular and sheep and goats are a huge contributor to CO2 and Methane.
The Vegan Society have lots of delicious vegan recipes.
The Vegetarian Society - find advice, recipes and information on transitioning to a vegetarian diet.
If physical cooking books are more you’re thing, take a look at River Cottage.
If you’d prefer to watch some information on the benefits of a less meat and diary focussed diet – watch You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment, exploring diet impacts on Netflix.
Or learn about the benefits of a plant-based diet in The Game Changers Documentary.
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Growing your own food at home is a fantastic way to reduce food waste and lower your carbon footprint. By cultivating your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs, you can harvest what you need, reducing excess and spoilage waste. It also cuts down on the carbon emissions associated with transporting and packaging store-bought produce. Plus, home-grown produce is often fresher and tastier, not to mention cheaper.
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Choose sustainably sourced seafood options certified by organizations like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Sustainable seafood practices support healthy ocean ecosystems.
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Get involved in community gardening projects or rent an allotment plot to grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Gardening promotes local food production, biodiversity, and fosters a sense of community.