Sustainable Christmas Dinner
The best meal of the year?
For some, the answer to this question is yes; for others, it fills them with dread. Whichever way you feel, we are here to share our ways to have a more sustainable Christmas dinner. Whether you're a veggie, vegan or partial to the traditional turkey and all the trimmings, we will show you ways to save money and waste and turn your leftovers into delightful meals for days to come.
We will show how to eat more sustainably over the festive season. Share our favourite places to shop, showcase the best foodie products we have online and some of our delicious recipes for your favourite festive treats, except this time, you won't be left with mountains of plastic waste at the end.
We explore taking the less is more approach. Allowing us all to reduce our consumption of especially meat in the run-up to Christmas and on the big day.
We cannot escape the environmental impact of our Christmas dinner, but there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint without giving up some of your favourite treats.
1. The main event aka Christmas Dinner
Christmas dinner, lunch, brunch or midnight feast, whatever tradition you opt to go for, let's talk about how you can make your Christmas feast more sustainable.
Let's start with the turkey. If you're a meat eater and enjoy a turkey on Christmas day, opt for a larger bird that will leave you with leftovers to use again. Shop locally, and buy one of that has been raised well and, if possible, is organic. Above all, utilise your leftovers to minimise waste.
The same goes for the vegetables you're going to enjoy. Shop local and use this as the time you try your local farm shop. They will have seasonal, local produce which you can shop. Do your research and find the most sustainable farms and farm shops in your area, and do as much as possible to support those independent businesses.
What pairs perfectly with a Sustainable Christmas dinner is plastic-free crackers.
2. Cheese, cheese and more cheese
We are big fans of vegan cheese, and when it comes to vegan cheese, we have to say Kinda Co is our number 1 go-to. A sustainable vegan cheese producer based in the UK, they have made vegan cheese that tastes like cheese!
With over 14 varieties of cheese to try, so we are sure there will be one that you will love. However, if you're not ready to take the leap to vegan cheese and want to find a sustainable alternative to your favourite cheddar, we have some tips for you.
Take a look at the Ethical Dairy. A dairy farm that is taking a new, more sustainable approach. They produce traditional cheese made with organic milk from their own dairy herd, where they keep the calves with their mothers to suckle. Rainton Farm is the first commercial dairy in the UK to follow the cow-with-calf method, demonstrating that cow-with-calf dairy farming is viable and sustainable at scale. Their ethical dairy model is based on treating the animals, the land, the environment and the people who work there with respect and kindness.
If you want to find something closer to your home, your local farm shop is a great place to start. Pop in and ask about the cheese they stock. Don't be afraid to ask questions about where it comes from and how it is produced, and then decide whether you want to buy it. Get online and do some research; knowledge is power.
What pairs perfectly with cheese ethically produced wine.
3. Wine, Cocktails and Beers
Whatever your Christmas tipple of choice, we have some of the best ethically produced alcohol and alcohol alternatives on the market. We have tried and tested them and are serving up some boozy and non-boozy bottles, perfect for Christmas dinner and beyond.
Never thought alcohol could be ethical?
Well, it most certainly can, with small batch production, brands using traditional methods and reusable and recycled packaging, the ethical alcohol industry is stepping up, and we are here for it.
We have an extensive selection of sustainable alcohol brands online, so check them out. In addition, we have spiced rums, ocean-inspired gins and wines to pair with any meal. The question is, what is your tipple of choice?
4. Make your own
If there isn't a sustainable alternative to your favourite Christmas treat, why not try making your own. Whether it's chocolate truffles, crackers, cakes and puddings, why not get creative in the kitchen. Not only do homemade treats taste so much better, but they also make great gifts.
We have some great Food Reels on Instagram, which show you how to make plastic-free alternatives to some of our favourite Christmas treats. Food Reels on Instagram.
If you're not a confident cook, head to Pinterest or google recipe videos and follow some step-by-step tutorials. Don't shy away from it; you've got this!
When it comes to Christmas, we believe less is more.
We hope some of our tips and links have inspired you to give your Christmas dinner a sustainable overhaul. The best advice we can provide you is to avoid the excess. Be mindful of what you buy and where you buy it, and less is more, in our opinion.