This year has brought to everyone’s attention how fragile human existence can be. The pandemic has changed how most of us live our lives and made many of us consider whether or not are current lifestyles are sustainable.
So, what can we do? It is vital we continue to put pressure on governments and corporations to reduce emissions. Only by holding them accountable can climate change truly be tackled. But what can be done on a personal level? Is it pointless to make small changes when the problem is so big? Absolutely not! Individual changes do make a difference; as consumers change their buying patterns, corporations are more likely to take into account our preferences.
If you're searching for a new year’s resolution that is good for you and good for the planet, look no further. Below I’ve outlined what I call ‘a low carbon diet’. It can be something you do on weekdays, for a month, for sixth months or even the almighty challenge of sticking to it for a whole year. You might even find yourself adopting it for life. Wouldn’t that be wild!
What is a low carbon footprint diet, and what are the benefits?
A low carbon footprint diet means consuming foods that have fewer greenhouse gas emissions associated with their production and shipment and ensuring that none (or little) of that food is wasted. The benefits of this diet include:
- A lower carbon footprint: By changing to a low carbon diet, you can lead a more sustainable lifestyle and help slow the rate of climate change.
- The potential to improve your health: studies show that plant-based diets have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, strokes and type 2 diabetes. They can also lower blood pressure and cholesterol. (British Nutrition Foundation)
- The potential to save money: A diet that’s high in meat can be expensive, particularly in comparison to a plant-based diet. In the U.K a study showed that in reducing meat consumption families could save, on average, £209 each per year. Reducing food waste will also help reduce your household costs.
New year’s resolution 1: Adopting a plant-based diet
Why?
A report commissioned by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) documented that animal agriculture is a leading cause of climate change. The report indicated that a global shift to plant-based consumption would be an excellent way to reduce global emissions and prevent climate change.
How much?
Pawprint estimates that a fully plant-based diet could save a former meat-eater around 2.6 tonnes CO2e per year. The same as driving 4,700 miles in the average car!
What?
So what does a plant-based diet involve? It means cutting out animal products - like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy - from your diet and replacing them with protein sources from plants. That means more fruit, vegetables, tofu and tempeh. If you usually drink dairy milk with your tea or coffee, try oat milk as a replacement. It’s actually delicious.
My favourite plant-based recipe:
Maffe Tiga is a dish from my home country of Guinea. It is traditional to West Africa and very easy to make Vegan.
Ingredients:
- 3 - 5 spoonfuls of Vegan stock powder
- 1 large chopped onion
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 large chopped tomato
- 1 squeeze of lemon
- 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
- chilli flakes
- 1 jar of natural peanut butter
- chopped habanero chilli peppers (add to your taste - they are spicy)
- pinch of salt and pepper
- one spoon of oil for frying
- For your meat replacement you can use Vegan chicken cut up or sweet potato if you're looking for a healthier option
Cook the onion and garlic together and add all the ingredients except the Vegan chicken and peanut butter. Boil everything together until your stock powder has completely dissolved. Once simmering you can add the peanut butter and cook for an hour. Then you can add the Vegan chicken and cook until it’s heated through.
New year’s resolution 2: cut out food waste
Why?
More than one-third of all food produced throughout the world is wasted every year. That means 8% of all emissions per year are due to food waste. Not only are the environmental costs staggering but the economic cost is also around 143 billion Euros per year in the European Union. This is against the rising tide of economic inequality and an increase in the use of food banks. It’s vital we reduce our food waste both individually and commercially to prevent food insecurity at home and abroad.
What?
So, what does cutting out food waste involve? It means reducing the overall waste coming from your kitchen by incorporating some small changes into the way you shop and store food. By planning your meals, checking best before dates and avoiding overbuying, you can reduce your food waste considerably.
How much?
A 25% reduction in food waste could reduce your carbon footprint by around 20 kg CO2e per year! The same as driving 36 miles in the average car!
My favourite food waste-eliminating tip:
We all do it - go into the shop for carrots and come out with an entire basket full of produce. Avoid this by writing a list of what you really need before going shopping. This should stop you from overbuying (or at least reduce how much you do it).
New year’s resolution 3: eat seasonal and local products
Why?
While what you eat is the most important thing to consider when adopting a low carbon diet, location/growing methods can also have an impact on your carbon footprint. Food that’s imported from far away racks up food miles along its journey, and out of season produce tends to be grown in energy-intensive hothouses.
What?
This winter in the UK you can pack your diet full of greens like brussels sprouts, cabbage, and apples, along with potatoes and cauliflower to create some amazing plant-based dishes from local produce. Conversely, try to limit the number of exotic/out of season fruit and veg that you buy, like avocados, pineapples, and kiwis. Check the ‘country of origin’ on the packet/label if you’re not sure.
How much?
Pawprint estimates an 88 kg CO2e saving per year if you stop eating out-of-season veg and replace it with in-season, local alternatives. The same as driving 160 miles in the average car!
My favourite plant-based recipe for in-season veg in the UK in Jan:
Stir-Fried Garlic sprouts are a delicious and quick plant-based dish that’s ingredients should be easy to source locally.
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- garlic cloves
- chopped brussel sprouts
Cook the garlic in a generous amount of olive oil, add the sprouts on high heat and cook until caramelised. Add salt, pepper and chilli flakes if desired. Then serve.
For a comprehensive list of winter veg, check out Pawprint’s ‘Seasonal Veg UK’ blog. Read now
New Year’s resolution 4: Try to combine all of the above!
Why?
Global warming will impact everyone, but it is already impacting some of the least economically developed countries. Africa, for instance, will be the most impacted continent in the world due to increasingly extreme weather patterns and poor infrastructure. This is in spite of the fact that individuals in Africa are currently contributing the least to climate change; the average carbon footprint of someone living in Rwanda is under one tonne of CO2e per year (Our World in Data). It’s 12.7 tonnes in the UK!
But can my diet really make that much of a difference?
Yes! If you choose to combine all of these resolutions and stick to it for a year you can cut up to 2.7 tonnes CO2e off your carbon footprint; that’s more than 20% of the average UK citizen’s yearly carbon footprint! So, while 2020 has given us a lot to worry about, with the right changes we can make a difference in 2021. Go on, give it a try. What have you got to lose?
Lastly, my top tips for adopting a low carbon diet in 2021;
- Do your research: look into the reasons why plant-based diets are good for you and good for animals, your health and the planet. Follow @vegan_abolitionniste and @bestofvegan on Instagram
- Follow some plant-based food blogs: making the switch can be daunting, so get inspired by looking at some great plant-based recipes. Follow @thecanadianafrican and @toosplantbasedfood on Instagram
- Look into which brands do the best cheese made from plants. Cravings are normal when first give it up. Follow @honestly.tasty and @veganlife_mag on Instagram for great options.
- Look into ways you can reduce food waste and eat seasonally by following inspiring bloggers such as @anurbanharvester who tackles supermarket waste in the EU and @eatwhatyousow who blogs about plant-based homesteading.
