Food plays a major role in human health – and has a huge impact on the environment from its production, processing and disposal. With more plant-based choices that are tasty, affordable and wholesome, you can easily eat your way to a lower carbon footprint.
A new alternative to meatballs
Many people know that plant-based foods have much less of an environmental impact than meat and dairy products. Often, the mistake is thinking that these more sustainable choices always come at the expense of flavour and texture.
For example, the great taste of the IKEA meatball is evident in its popularity – around 1 billion are gobbled up each year. The HUVUDROLL plant ball is a totally plant-based alternative that can satisfy even the most ardent meat lover. In fact, when you take a bite of the plant ball, you might not notice any difference to the famous meatball. Yet it has only 4% of the climate footprint.
For those in any doubt, HUVUDROLL plant ball proves that more sustainable eating can be delicious and nutritious.
Giving rubbish a new life
Even if you live frugally, there’s always a certain amount of waste associated with food. But you can deal with these by-products in ways that reduce the burden on the environment.
If you have a garden or a balcony, you can make compost from most kitchen scraps, rather than send them to a landfill. And why not grow your own vegetables from the roots that you otherwise throw away? You can put the bottom of a lettuce or a spring onion into a small jar of water and, once rooted, plant on in soil.
As for food packaging – all those wrappers, cartons, jars and tins – you can save time and keep your home neater with a separate container for each type of recyclable material. There’s a wide range of both freestanding and built-in options, such as HÅLLBAR series, to keep mess out of sight until recycling day.
Then you can give yourself a pat on the back for giving those unwanted materials a new purpose in life.
Waste not, want not
Estimates say that up to a third of the world’s food supply goes to waste each year. Just a small change to kitchen habits can help to reduce this huge figure.
When you go shopping, you can be careful to only buy as much perishable food as you can use before expiry. And, once at home, you can store the ingredients in transparent containers within easy reach. The fresh food can last a bit longer and you’ll remember what to eat first.
Leftovers from dinner can go into a food container, rather than the bin. You can chill or freeze them for a quick and easy lunch on another day. The affordably-priced IKEA 365+ glass containers are oven-safe, so you can store, heat and serve all from the same dish. That cuts down on the washing-up, too.
Showing the fresh, hiding the waste
There’s a wide range of IKEA products that can help you to show off your fresh foods and leftovers – plus a variety of bins and inserts to keep your recycling or rubbish from spoiling your appetite.