Planet-proof your Christmas Dinner

© Kelsey Chance, Unsplash

This Christmas don’t stuff yourself and the bin to the brim. It’s become a festive habit to gorge huge quantities of food but still we manage to make it the worst time of year for food waste. Last year we threw away 2 million turkeys, 5 million Christmas puddings and 17 million Brussels sprouts!

According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, 30 percent of food is wasted globally across the supply chain, contributing 8 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. If food waste were a country, it would come in third after the United States and China in terms of impact on global warming. 

And then there’s the menu. The best way to reduce CO2 emissions in your diet is to reduce the amount of meat and dairy you eat. If we all went plant-based we could save 8 billion tonnes of CO2 which is a lot more than the entire annual global emissions of the USA. This would make a huge positive impact.

© EWG 2011

Eat Lancet has devised a planetary health diet which consists of fruit and vegetables, plenty of grains and beans, and meat or fish once per week. It’s a great option for those not ready to go vegan. Better to stay clear of red meats, as beef and lamb production are the most planet-wrecking, whilst turkey has about one-third of the environmental impact. For those wanting to make a smaller impact but unwilling to compromise on the bird this Christmas, chicken is a more environmentally friendly (and cheaper) alternative to turkey. 

We’re a big fan of vegan and plant-based options this Christmas, but don’t worry – it doesn’t end with nut roast! Get creative with veggie-packed pies, a stuffing made from mixed mushrooms, nuts and sourdough bread, or a creamy (but still dairy-free) vegetable gratin. Don’t miss out on all the tasty festive trimmings – you can still make roasties crispy with olive oil rather than animal fat, and it’s easy to make a delicious meat-free mushroom or onion gravy.

Going plant-based or vegan is an awesome start, but it’s important to think about where your veg is coming from, too. Buying from local producers will reduce your carbon footprint if produce is seasonal, as will staying away from air-freighted produce. A great way you can do this is by buying from an organic food delivery service such as Riverford or Abel & Cole. They both only sell 100% organic, they avoid plastic packaging and are doing lots to combat food waste. Or find your local fruit and veg market and greengrocers instead.

“Around half of food waste in the UK comes from the home”

It’s worth planning out your meals to save money and prevent food waste but this can be particularly helpful at Christmas when we have a tendency to panic buy and over-indulge. Around half of food waste in the UK comes from the home, so to avoid overspending, make a detailed shopping list and stick to it. Taking into account how many guests you’re expecting and make a note of quantities and possible alternatives if the shops have run out of more obscure ingredients. What do your guests actually like? There’s no use buying heaps of brussels sprouts if everyone loathes them. 

© Charles Deluvio, Unsplash

When serving up Christmas dinner, allow guests to help themselves so leftovers can be saved from serving plates rather than scraped into the bin. You can freeze most sauces, but there’s nothing wrong with re-inventing your dinner the next day. It’s what the season is all about! When you cook your sprouts, avoid over-cooking them initially to retain their crunch. This will make them far better if you need to reheat for leftovers the next day – they’re delish stir fried or roasted with balsamic vinegar. When you get bored of the roast dinner format, chuck any other leftover veggies into a spicy curry, or stir fry into a pad thai. 

Need some inspiration for your meat-free Christmas? Head over to Instagram and check out @vegaliciouslyeva who shares her 4 course vegan meal plan, or for trimmings using just 5 ingredients each @veganawesome has you covered.

Getting creative with your leftovers this Christmas? We’d love to see your photos. Tag us on Instagram @monkeywrenchmag