Mix Sustainability and Deliciousness on World Food Day
On the 16th October, many of us will celebrate World Food Day by getting together with friends and family to enjoy a delicious meal, but how can we do our best to make sure that the food that we cook or order is environmentally friendly and sustainable? In this article we will look at the different ways you can mix sustainability with tasty food and come up with a recipe that is great for you and the environment!
Packaging Might Contain the Answer
When we order food or buy our ingredients from our favourite shops, there is no getting away from the fact that most of them will come in packaging of some form: cardboard, paper, glass, or plastic. The last material on that list finds itself at the centre of one of the biggest conversations in sustainability today – what do we do with all the plastic?
Use Recyclable Materials and Up-Cycle
For the most part, plastics are not great for recycling, which is why they cause such a problem in the environment – they can’t break down naturally and they pollute our land and oceans. Replacing products that contain lots of plastic wrapping with those that have more cardboard, or ordering from restaurants that promote the use of paper or cardboard bags instead of plastic is a fantastic start!
By reusing plastic packaging, for example takeaway boxes, you can help increase the life of the plastic. In this way, instead of throwing it away, the package becomes useful and much less damaging for the environment. Up-cycling plastic boxes to use for lunch boxes, baking, and ingredient storage will help in the quest for better sustainability on World Food Day.
Try Vegetarianism, Veganism and Buying Local
Meat and fish are the foundation of some of the most wonderful examples of world cuisine, and make a perfect addition to many World Food Day meals – but what about sustainability? Today, there is a lot of conversation on the subject of over-fishing and industrial animal farming, and whether we are eating too much meat and fish. It’s a topic that’s on the lips of many environmentalists, but there are a few ways in which you can help promote food sustainability.
Eat those vegetables: there has been an increased movement towards vegetarian or vegan recipes and restaurants in the last few years, so it’s fair to say that the mighty vegetable is having its time in the spotlight! Gone are the days of boiled or bland flavours – food without meat or fish can be some of the tastiest dishes on the menu – and are more affordable, too. With delicious spices and amazing cooking methods, restaurants like Saigon Bistro are changing the way we eat vegetables and enjoy food. This doesn’t always mean ditching meat, but swapping out for fresh vegetables every now and then can go a long way to helping food sustainability.
Buy local and seasonal: the fact remains that we get most of the food that we eat from outside of our local community and sometimes even outside of the country that we live in, and this is bad for food sustainability. There are a few ways that we can work towards better sustainability – namely through buying food that is seasonal and local. This helps combat industrial farming methods that produce more food than necessary, and importing foods that are out of season via transport that is damaging to nature. Supporting local restaurants and markets is also a fantastic way to help your community stay vibrant and your food fresh!
Remember that every small contribution towards food sustainability is positive, and that the methods above are a good way to start thinking about the environment, while also enjoying mouth-watering food!
