1. INCREASE VEG, REDUCE MEAT

How animals are farmed, and use of land, are the most significant areas of planetary impact from food. We don’t have to give up meat completely - but we do need to be smart about it. Think of it as a seasoning, instead.

2. Rethink ‘Waste’

A third of food produced is wasted. It doesn’t take much to manage waste better at both ends of the meal, whether that’s frying up stalks or being clever with leftovers.

3. Get Microlocal

Your fresh ingredients should travel as little as possible so get to know what is produced around you. Dried and tinned stores are much lower impact, so glory in the spices and aromatics the world has to offer and take inspiration from global cuisine to give life to your local ingredients.

4. What’s Good for Us is Good for the World

Pesticides and chemicals are harmful to the earth and all of its inhabitants. Where possible, organically farmed, grass-fed produce allows you to tread more lightly. It’s more expensive, so we use it less and use it well.

5. Rebalance Your Plate

Release yourself from the culture of ‘meat and two veg’. A plate, a meal, a day should be made up of half vegetables and fruit, a third carbohydrate, and only a small amount of animal protein. Explore this in more detail with Eat Lancet’s Planetary Health Diet here.

6. Diversify your Ingredients

Turn towards produce that is lower impact and higher yield. A good place to start is with the WWF’s 50 Future Foods.

7. Think about Energy Use in the Kitchen

The hob uses less energy than the oven. Pressure cooking reduces this further. When you switch on the oven, fill it, don’t just heat up a croissant.