Food

Chapter 8 - Food Waste

• Get involved with a local community fridge! If you’re in the UK, simply visit hubbub.org.uk/the-community-fridge and scroll around the map to find your closest community fridge. You can volunteer at one in your free time or you can even set up your own fridge in your community. If you're not in the UK, you can check out websites like ChangeX.org which also has a Community Fridge Network and Freedge.org too. Both these websites also have maps and contact details on how to get involved!

• Plan ahead for meal times. Shopping with a list of what you need for the week can make a huge difference when it comes to making sure you haven’t overspent on fresh ingredients that won’t last. You’ll even save money in the long run!

• Get creative! If you’ve got leftovers that you’re not sure what to do with, don’t throw them away; look around online or think outside the box for some inspiration to make the most of the ingredients you have in your cupboard.

• Follow @stopfoodwaste.ie for tips and tricks about how to make the most of food in your cupboards, or when to buy the best seasonal fruit and veg that’ll be fresher and kinder on the bank balance.

• Donate products you won’t use to your local food projects that help the community and reduce waste at the same time. If you’re based in London, check out FoodCycle, who salvaged 191 tons of food waste alone in 2021.

  Chapter 9 - Dairy & Meat

• As Gidon Eshel, ph.D says in Before The Flood, “If you want something you can do, without appealing to any higher authority such as government, I can’t think of an easier out than changing your diet. You can start tonight!” Choosing a diet that is less impactful on the planet is something we can do multiple times each day. Shifting to a plant-based diet is one of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact on the planet.

• Get yourself comfy on the sofa and learn more about the issues. A documentary is a great place to start. In the past few years, a number of films (like 2014’s Cowspiracy to 2017’s What the Health to 2021’s Seaspiracy) have covered these topics in depth. After reading this chapter, also be sure to watch ‘Before The Flood,’ which I found particularly inspiring.

• If you need inspiration for some amazing meals that don’t include meat and dairy, check out these amazing Vegan chefs on YouTube: Cheap Lazy Vegan, Avant Garde Vegan and Rachel Ama are a few favorites, but there’s so many I’ve definitely missed out here. Me and my Mum love the BOSH! Books too!

• Read up on plant-based nutrition. A plant-based diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts, is one of the healthiest ways to eat. But before you dramatically change your diet in any way, you need to do some research on nutrition. (Many vegans choose to supplement B12, for example.) The Vegan Society, the NHS, and Healthline are good go-to resources.

• If you do want to go vegan, go at your own pace. If you’re trying to move from an omnivorous diet to a vegan diet overnight, it may feel overwhelming. This could mean you’re more likely to give up, and slip back into old eating habits. You can go at your own pace, making one or two swaps at a time, until you’re ready to cut out animal products altogether. Learning how to veganize your favorite meals is a good way to help with the transition!

• Surround yourself with likeminded people. With social media, finding people who think the same as you do is easy. Change up your feed by following plant-based accounts that inspire you, be it vegan chefs, animal rights activists, or sustainability advocates (or a mix of all three!). This helps to create a sense of community and support, especially if you’re early on in your vegan journey.

  Chapter 10 - Composting

• Based on where you live (with or without a garden), narrow down your options and then choose a method that suits your diet and what you typically throw away. There are an abundances of resources online to learn from such as helpmecompost.com which has accessible guides such as one about ‘Brown To Green Compost Ratio (The Easiest Guide Ever!)’

• If you live in an apartment and have no use for compost, use the free app ShareWaste where you can donate materials or compost. You can also see if a neighbor or local community garden can use your compost too.

• To learn how to make your own compost bin and for more compost tips, follow Positively Green (@positivelygreenliving) on TikTok and Instagram or Huw Richards on YouTube. I’ve used both in the last year and they’ve been super informative!

• Support Dominic and the amazing work he does with Compost Power by following his journey on Instagram (@compostpower) and checking out compostpowernyc.org to help build out community compost sites across NYC with an emphasis on underserved and marginalized communities. If you’re in NYC, even better!

• Other sources:

  • www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home

  • commongroundcompost.com/what-is-compost/ 

  • www.unep.org/thinkeatsave/get-informed/worldwide-food-waste 

  • helpmecompost.com/compost/basics/hot-compost-vs-cold-compost/

  Chapter 11 - Water

• Think about water usage around your home; only put on full loads of washing, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, and make sure to fix any leaks. Even taking a shower instead of a bath can save more than 40 liters in one hit (Source: World Wildlife Fund)!

• Save water in the garden with a water butt. Sprinklers can use up to 1,000 liters of water an hour (Source: Waterwise), while a water butt can catch large amounts of rainwater to use for watering plants, and washing cars and windows. The switch is a no-brainer.

• Check out @saveourwater on Instagram, a state-wide program aimed at helping Californians reduce everyday water use through conservation ideas, inspiration, and tips. These tips can easily be transferred into everyday lives of people living around the world.