29 March 2023 , 14:26
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As beautiful flowers bloom and green shoots appear, it’s clear spring has finally arrived. And with the change of season, there’s no better time to start thinking more about our impact on our environment and planet - and more importantly, the steps we can take to help protect it.
One such way begins in the kitchen, through our daily cooking and eating habits and practices. From buying local, seasonal and ethically-produced food, to a continued focus on recycling and reusing, there’s plenty we can do to help build a greener, stronger and fairer Wales.
As part of this drive, the Welsh Government - under - has just launched an exciting new ‘toolkit’ to help Welsh residents to eat better and more sustainably, whilst also reducing costs.
The new toolkit is full of great tips and advice on how to reduce your food waste, packaging, and energy use in the kitchen.
Take advantage of a range of fantastic ‘waste not’ recipes, handy food hacks, a guide to Wales’ seasonal produce, and lots more - including how to make your own cleaning products using ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.
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Start simple with modest changes to your cooking and purchasing habits - buy local, seasonal produce where possible (Food and Drink Wales)The toolkit has been developed as part of the Welsh Government’s vision to make Wales one of the most environmentally and socially responsible food and drink supply chains in the world, as well as contributing towards the country’s wider climate ambitions, including reaching net zero by 2050.
Speaking about the new toolkit, climate change activist, writer and chef Tom Hunt said: “With this guide, I aim to pass on some of my top tips about the small (and big) life changes you can make to help save you money and time, whilst supporting our planet. Think of this guide as a starting point to help you eat for pleasure, people and the planet.
“We’re all facing an increase in living costs - so, if we are going to eat well for the planet, it has to work well for us financially too. It can be easy to think that eating in a way that is good for the environment means expensive ingredients, but that doesn’t need to be the case.
“For me, it’s about saving waste, energy and our time through clever cooking, centring our weekly shop around seasonal, local fruit and vegetables and whole foods, and buying better produce when we can.”
Fish scrap croquettes are just one of the recipes in the sustainability toolkit (Food and Drink Wales)And having been a food journalist and activist for many years, Tom has heaps of experience and insight to offer.
He added: “My experience working as a food journalist and activist has taught me that how we eat has the power to improve not only our health, but that of our local and global communities, and even the environment. Everything is connected through our food web, the locations from where our ingredients come from and how they got to us.”
You can download the handy new toolkit
Saving money, time, and our planet
As a taster of what the toolkit has to offer, we’ve pulled out a handful of valuable tips and hints from its pages, from eating sustainably on a budget, to reducing your energy consumption when cooking - take a look below.
Eating sustainably on a budget
Support local suppliers and communities by buying Welsh produce where possible, such as Gower Salt Marsh Lamb (Food and Drink Wales)Eat local, seasonal food where possible - it’s often cheaper than imported goods, as well as meaning that there are fewer food miles and less waste along the way.
‘Wonky’ isn’t bad - mis-shapen fruit and veg may not look perfect but it tastes just the same!
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Know your ‘use by’ dates - ‘sell by’ and ‘best before’ dates are there to make sure food gets to our homes in as perfect condition as possible; but remember, food is perfectly fine to eat right up until midnight on the ‘use by’ date.
Eat the whole vegetable and produce less waste - incorporate the whole vegetable into your dishes from root to fruit. Root greens can replace regular greens and herb stalks are fine to use when chopped finely.
Keep an eye on packaging
Create your own packaging kit - keep bags, jars and tubs, even ones you might pick up from the odd takeaway order!
Buy loose produce from your local store - it is likely that loose produce will also be seasonal produce, so it’s a win-win!
Cook from scratch whenever you can - it doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple meal made with seasonal ingredients is not only delicious but can be therapeutic.
Reduce your energy while cooking
Batch cook - make dishes in batches and store extra portions in your fridge or freezer.
Use your oven wisely - make sure it is full and avoid opening it unnecessarily.
Favour the stove top - use the right-sized pot with a lid. You can also turn down the level of the ring or burner once fully warmed up as most dishes need to simmer.
Reduce waste by reusing and repurposing leftovers, such as these candied citrus peels (Food and Drink Wales)But that’s not all. The toolkit also offers plenty of great ideas on how to use your leftovers and things that may initially seem like waste, whether that’s potato peelings, citrus rinds, or spent coffee grounds.
There’s a whole world of cooking tips and tricks to discover - and it starts .
To find out more, visit , where you can also download the handy toolkit to eating more sustainably, with a host of delicious recipes to try.
You can also follow Food and Drink Wales on , and .