How to Shop Sustainably - the grocery edit!

Whether you love or loath meticulous meal planning and aisle-organise lists, we’ve all got to shop, cook, and eat, and if you’re a part of the Nudj community you’d probably like to do it in the most eco-friendly way possible. This month we’re tackling the first step and talking about how to shop for food in the most sustainable way. We believe eco-friendly eating doesn’t mean giving up on delicious food, and to help we’ve put together some simple hints and tips to help you take those first steps towards a more sustainable diet.

Think local

One of the most important factors of sustainable food shopping is thinking about where our produce is coming from. At Nudj we like to remember the ‘50 miles or less’ rule as a simple way to cut down the distance our food has travelled. Essentially we aim to source ingredients, especially our veggies, from farms and growers within 50 miles of where we’re eating them. The key word here is ‘aim’- we’d be lying if we said it’s always possible, but being more conscious is an achievable way to take a step towards our sustainability goals.

 The best way to get started on the ’50 miles or less’ challenge is to link up with your local food suppliers. Farmers markets are a great place to start, as you get the chance to chat to the growers about what’s in season and, most importantly, in abundance. Not sure where your closest farmers market is? Use this handy tool to search your area.

 If time is too short to mooch around your local farmers market, try looking for local veg box deliveries. This is a super easy way to know you’re eating what’s in season in your area- and the surprise of not knowing what you’re cooking with each week is a good way to push you out of your comfort zone in the kitchen! If you can’t find any local veg box deliveries then Riverford and Oddbox are two nationwide companies that focus on fighting food waste and getting it to you as sustainably as possible.

Sussing out the Supermarkets

 As much as we all love to think of ourselves pottering around farmers markets and cooking up a veggie storm with seasonal delivery boxes, let’s be real- sometimes the only option is a speedy dash around the supermarket before hanger makes you throw all your eco-friendly morals out the window. So how can we keep our weekly food shops and last-minute-essential runs as sustainable as possible? Here are the three questions we ask ourselves before we grab our bags for life.

 Where’s best to shop?

According to a Which report earlier in the year, Lidl and Waitrose come out on top in terms of sustainability when it comes to the big players in grocery shopping. The consumer watchdog considered greenhouse gas emissions, use of plastic, and food wastage before ranking supermarkets in order of how their sustainability data stacks up. Check up on your favourite here .

 Where has the produce come from?

You’ve looked at what’s in season , made your list and checked it twice- you know what veggies you’re stocking up on to become a seasonal hero this month. Just remember to check the labels- even if something is technically in British season, sometimes the supermarkets will have sourced it from somewhere else if it’s cheaper, or if unusual weather has impacted the crop in the UK. Checking the labels on meat and fish is also important- it may be more expensive to eat locally farmed produce, but it’s worth it to have a little less meat for a much lower carbon footprint.

 What is it packaged in?

Opting for loose fruit and veg is a simple way to reduce the plastic we bring home with our food shopping- things like bananas and oranges come in their own little protective shell and so definitely don’t need to be wrapped in unnecessary packaging. Anything else you can generally wash at home, or if you’re worried about the germs in your basket bring your own plastic-free bag, or use paper ones if your supermarket provides them. When buying store cupboard ingredients (think chickpeas and passata), cartons perform better than tin cans in terms of carbon footprint.

It can seem overwhelming thinking about how to shop more sustainably- that’s why at Nudj we believe taking small steps towards larger goals is the best way to create change without overhauling your whole life. Join one of our challenges today and start making a difference!