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Supermarkets make food shopping a breeze.

But it鈥檚 easy to forget that what we buy doesn鈥檛 just magically show up on the shelves. It takes time, energy and resources to grow and produce everything we eat.

When we waste food, we waste these resources. Food waste also contributes to climate change when it rots in landfill by producing greenhouse gas emissions.

So, how do we cut down the environmental impact of what we eat while still enjoying the food we love?

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Can these families reduce the environmental impact of their food?

Three families - The Clarkes, The Gardeners and The Kunchalas - explore how what they eat affects the environment.

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Try plant-based meals

Surprise the kids with a plant-based dinner. If they become a fan overnight, why not try incorporating more plant-based meals into your family鈥檚 diet?

There are lots of plant-based protein sources such as beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh or soya chunks that you can try as meat substitutes.

A plant-based diet may not be for everyone, so if meat is still on the menu, try choosing meat that was produced in the UK (the packaging usually says where it came from). The greenhouse gas emissions from beef produced in the UK are about half the global average according to the Committee on Climate Change.

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Plan your meals

A portion of food for each day of the week

Decide what you want to eat in the next few days and write down the ingredients you need before you do the next big shop. This way you鈥檒l only buy the things you will use.

If you still end up with extra ingredients or leftover food, see if you can use it for a different recipe or freeze it, then make a note for the next shop. Your food waste can go into a food waste bin or you can consider making a home compost.

A portion of food for each day of the week
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Grow your own food

Out of all the tips we鈥檝e given so far, this is probably the most exciting for little ones.

The Royal Horticultural Society suggests that November is a good time to plant fruit trees, but only if the ground is not frosted or too wet. In the spring and summer, you can grow tomatoes, cucumber or strawberries 鈥 they鈥檙e fairly easy to grow and will cope well in the British summer (if it鈥檚 not too unpredictable!).

You can also grow herbs like coriander, mint and basil on your windowsill or rent an allotment to grow your own fruit and vegetables.

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Buy seasonally

Two people shopping for fruit and vegetables

Susha Sooral, Communications Coordinator from environmental charity Hubbub, says choosing local fruit and veg grown in the UK is one easy way to reduce the carbon footprint of your food. If it鈥檚 naturally in harvest at this time of year it鈥檚 likely to taste better, and because it hasn鈥檛 had to travel too far, it will be fresher too!

Two people shopping for fruit and vegetables
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