Practical ways to enjoy holiday meals without hurting your wallet or the environment.
Ah, Christmas time. That time of year that is notorious for its delicious food, the Christmas dinner, cake, chocolate, cheese, and the never-ending snacks. It is often too easy to forget about the environmental impact that comes with the tasty decisions that we make. Did you know that food is responsible for up to 30 per cent of greenhouse gases?
So how does food impact the environment?
Food generates a lot of carbon emissions, from how it is produced to how it is transported, even down to how it is stored and cooked. Food waste is estimated to contribute to 8-10 % of manmade greenhouse gas emissions, which is almost 5 times as many as Aviation. So, it doesn’t take much to quickly see how big of an impact that food waste is making on our planet.
It Is also important to remember that we are facing a cost-of-living crisis too. This means food costs, amongst other bills, have gone up. Reducing your climate impact can also often lead to reduced costs.
So, what can you do to reduce your carbon emissions and food wastage over the festive season?
Only buy what you need.
During Christmas, there are many sales, offers and discounts that can quickly catch your eye. But it is important to stay focused on what you need as these offers can quickly distract you and lead to overconsumption of food. A lot of this leads to stocked up cupboards with food that is unnecessary and will inevitably result in the bin. In 2022, global food waste was estimated at 132 kilograms per person annually, amounting to 1.05 billion tonnes or roughly 19% of the world’s food supply.
To avoid overspending and reduce the chance of buying too much, make sure to make and stick to your shopping list. It also helps to eat before you shop as a hungry mind is more likely to pick up more food than needed. Be realistic when it comes to preparing food, most of the time, food waste comes from over-preparing. Make sure you have a good idea of how much you and your guests will be eating and try to monitor potion sizes, not everyone will be eating the same amount. Visit Love Food Hate Waste and try out their portion calculator.
Shop Local
In addition to buying food, try to shop locally to reduce food miles. Food miles refer to the distance food travels from where it is produced to your plate. Big shops transport their products from all around the country and the world. Local businesses are more likely sell items from local farms, and UK producers. This reduces the need for long and carbon intensive transport.
As food in local shops spends less time travelling, it often uses less packaging and can arrive fresher to give you longer shelf life, reducing waste in store and at home.
Shopping locally helps our towns flourish by keeping producers and stores in business. Spending money locally supports access to fresher, lower-carbon, and less wasteful products.
Don’t chuck perfectly good food.
Get experimental with your leftovers. Leftovers are inevitable at times. Where possible, save the good food and use it to whip up some delicious recipes. There are many recipes online that combine the leftovers from your dinner to make some great dishes to share with people around you or keep to yourself throughout Boxing Day and the New Year.
There are hundreds of food websites and blogs, even BBC Good Food, that offer recipes for all tastes and budgets. One of our favourite picks from last year was a Roast Potato Breakfast Hash, shared by Delicious Magazine. Or simply turn it all into a sandwich like good old Monica from F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
By making small, mindful changes, you can enjoy a delicious Christmas without the guilt of unnecessary waste or a heavy carbon footprint. 270,000 tonnes of food is wasted in the UK every Christmas. Find more, tips, tricks and recipes on the Durham County Council website. What changes can you make this Christmas to benefit our environment and yourself?
