Page 59 - BN1 July-Aug 2019 web

© Rachel Park

Ask Jess...

The Nutritionist

Jess English, Registered Dietitian

PLASTIC FREE JULY

It’s July - time for beach BBQs, drinks al fresco and for a • Talking of meal planning, how about packed
lot of people, it’s also time for Plastic Free July. Plastic Free lunches? It might seem simple but it’s an easy win
July has been around since 2011 and aims to highlight the to avoid all of the added plastic packaging AND
amount of plastic we’re consuming each day. save you some money. It doesn’t have to be boring
either, leftovers are great the next day if you’ve got a
It’s essentially a month where you try to cut out single-use microwave at work.
plastics - and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be amazed
at how much there is. Next time you do your weekly shop, • When you’re planning your meals, plan where you
look down and see how much of it is wrapped in plastic. shop too. Look for unwrapped fruit and veg where you
Hummus? Plastic. Chicken / tofu? Plastic. Frozen fruit? can - only grabbing what you need means less food
Plastic. Supermarket shopping gets interesting.
waste too. The big supermarkets all have affordable
unwrapped options (but remember they’re not open
Spending power late on Sundays!) and check out your local markets
You can’t fail to have noticed the rumblings of a world and greengrocers for fresh, seasonal produce.
that’s coming to grips with the amount of plastic that it
uses - from Attenborough to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s • You can get your meat, fish and cheese from the
new TV venture, people are starting to sit up and take counters at your local butchers or deli, plus many
notice. There are zero-waste stores popping up around supermarkets have counters - ask if you can bring
the country and even Waitrose are piloting a refill store in in your own containers or for them to use paper
Oxford that’s been a huge success.
wrapping.
Shopping and cooking
Sustainability and minimizing waste are an important part • Can’t get to Oxford for your weekly shop? I feel ya.
of how many of my clients shop and cook. I regularly work Here’s some fab local places where you can pick
with people to find realistic ways that they can make small up lots of your foodie favourites plastic-free: HisBe,
wins. Infinity Foods, Harriet’s of Hove, Store Brighton,
Wastenot, Hollingdean Wholefoods, Down to Earth
HERE’S SOME OF MY TOP LOCAL TIPS:
These changes can take a lot of planning and it can all
• Why not try out a local milk delivery? The glass seem pretty overwhelming - it’s important to remember
bottles are continuously re-used, so no recycling that you don’t have to be perfect. Even making small
needed, plus you’re supporting local farmers and changes means that shops sit up and take notice.
businesses. In Brighton we’re lucky to have a few
- including our last independent milkman Jerry from To be realistic, it needs to work for you and your budget
Brighton Milk. - some things just aren’t feasible for everyone and you
need to accept that sometimes there will be food waste,
• Meal planning - it might seem like a no-brainer but it’s especially with little ones! Check out local composting
a fab waste-saving habit to get into. Sitting down to schemes in your area via the Brighton and Hove Food
plan your meals for the week and making a shopping Partnership website to put those scraps to good use.
list can cut back on so much food and plastic waste.
Add in some flexible options; you’re not likely to want
to cook that lasagne from scratch after a long day at
work, are you? www.levelupnutrition.co.uk
@levelupnutritionuk