The complete guide to doing your bit to fight food waste and support local

As the 2021 Change One Thing campaign draws to a close, Produced in Kent rounds up the 20 top tips to help residents of Kent fight food waste and boost the local economy.

Produced in Kent, the trade organisation that supports and promotes local independent food and drink businesses in the county, launched Change One Thing back in January to encourage and support more sustainable behaviours around food. Each month, they shared helpful tips and advice, based around a different theme.

Chief Executive of Produced in Kent Floortje Hoette, knows that most people will only change one thing at a time. She says: “How people think and behave towards shopping and sustainability has and will continue to change. Reverting to shopping locally for food during the height of the pandemic made people think more about where food comes from, how it is produced, and how its production impacts the environment.

“This has led not just to customers buying more local and sustainable products, but also to a change in attitude towards food itself.” She continues. “Produced in Kent wants residents of the county to look at how they can change the way they shop going forwards. This collection of tips is timeless and can be adopted at any time.

“If you make a change every month and then embrace another change the following month, these cumulative changes will hugely benefit the county by providing jobs, preserving our beautiful countryside and reinforcing community values.”

TOP TIPS

Eat Smarter:

1. Eat The Seasons- Support local farmers by enjoying seasonal food. Low in mileage, high in quality, nutrition and freshness.

2. Buy and eat smarter- Only buy what you need and cook the appropriate portion size to reduce food waste and save money. Did you know UK households waste enough food every year to fill 38 million wheelie bins!

3. Love Your Leftovers- Strive to use all the food that you cook. Warm leftovers up the next day or freeze them for later or give them a second life by reimagining yesterday’s dinner.

4. Plan your meals ahead of time, so you only buy what is necessary and reduce the amount of leftovers

5. 5 a Day-An easy way towards your five a day would be to whip up a summer or winter pudding with seasonal fruit. Also, a great way to use up stale bread.

Shop Smarter:

6. Bring a bag – Avoid plastic waste and invest in good quality reusable bags Keep them in the car or pick a foldaway one that can attach to a keyring.

7. Buy in bulk – Reduce the amount of packaging used by buying dried goods such as pasta, rice, or lentils in bulk. Macknade in Faversham offers a great packaging-free station.

8. Mind the label – To keep food miles low, check the label. Support local produce growers and farmers such as Park Farm Butchers.

9. Order your fruit and veg to be delivered. The Kent Veg Box delivers straight to your door and supplies locally produced seasonal fruit and veg, bread, eggs and more.

10. Buy gifts or flowers online from local boutiques. Treat a friend to a gift from The Kentish Soap Company.

Cook Smarter:

11. Grow Your Own- Why not visit Edible Culture for your peat, pesticide, plastic-free plants & gardening supplies. Everything you need to grow your own and be more sustainable.

12. Think Sweet and Savoury- Use carrots and courgettes in cake recipes, they add great texture and sweetness and help use up those last few hiding in the fridge.

Spice up your life – with a world of flavours and different cuisines. Use local ingredients or even locally made sauces to help if you don’t have time to make a dish from scratch!

14. Reinvent a classic! Revisit classic recipes such as bread and butter pudding utilising ingredients you already have such as stale croissants or brioche for a lovely buttery taste.

15. Compost your food scraps – Start your own compost or use the council food bin or apps such as ShareWaste.com to find a local compost.

Live Smarter:

16. Shop Local for Life- If residents of Kent spent £10 per week on local produce, we could put £415 million back into the local economy per year.

17. Switch to a reusable water bottle – Every year, approx. 7.7 billion plastic bottles are purchased1 switch to a colourful reusable water bottle and invest in a reusable coffee cup for your takeaway coffees.

18. Got Kent Milk? Remember the good old days when you had your milk delivered? Well, this is once more an option thanks to local dairies such as Plurenden Manor Farm or Hinxdon Farm Dairy.

19. Help local “minimum waste” heroes – Why not try some environmentally-conscious places to eat out, such as Macknade. And if you cannot finish your plate, make sure to ask for a doggy bag, and tomorrow’s lunch is sorted!

20. Try food sharing apps – If you really do find yourself with food that will go to waste for whatever reason, why not try food sharing apps like Olio. Or give it to a neighbour!