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5 ways to eat more sustainably this autumn

Words by Smiley Team

As it gets chillier, hot food is more comforting than ever. So how can you make sure what you're eating is good for the planet?

Food production currently contributes to about a third of global carbon emissions and, if we're to successfully beat climate change, we need to reduce our annual footprints to a maximum of two tonnes of carbon per person.

Here are some great initiatives for you to support in order to combat the climate impact of your meals.

Tropical fruit in winter?

Eating seasonal fruit and vegetables is one of the most effective ways to support the health of the planet, as well as yourself. Ditch the imports from abroad to avoid the emissions this causes and opt for local produce. Hubbub offers a handy calendar of seasonal food with delicious autumnal recipe suggestions. In the UK, autumn is a time for crisp English apples, hearty potato dishes and the glorious colours of roots and gourds such as butternut squash and beetroot. Enjoy!

Choose seasonal seafood 

“There are plenty of fish in the sea,” they say, but this isn’t true all year round. While fruit and vegetables are commonly known to go in and out of season, did you know this also goes for seafood? Fish such as salmon becomes more sparse in late autumn and other species, such as tuna, are severely endangered by overfishing. If you’re keen to continue eating seafood, have a look at what’s available locally and select more sustainable options, for example, oysters, which have longer life spans. You can also take it a step further and support the WWF’s campaign to reform the fishing industry.

Save the Halloween pumpkins

Don’t forget, Halloween pumpkins aren’t just decorations - you can also eat them. To transform your Jack O’ Lantern into a culinary masterpiece, check out the recipe suggestions from the anti-food-waste charity Hubbub here. Sending pumpkins to your belly rather than the bin could help prevent 14.5 million pumpkins from going to waste this year.

Join the food sharing revolution

If you find your cupboard overloaded with items nearing their use-by date, it’s time to download a food sharing app such as Olio. By offering your surplus items to people nearby, you can help tackle food insecurity as well as waste. This is especially important as winter edges in and higher energy bills means people are forced to choose between heating and eating. 

Support your local community fridge

Another way to tackle hunger with your surplus food is through donating to your local community fridge. At present there are over 150 fridges across the UK and with the help of the Co-op supermarket, Hubbub hopes to raise this to 250 over the next year. Find your local community fridge on Hubbub’s map.

This article aligns with the following UN SDGs

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