Here’s how to consume with care this Christmas...

Indulgence, festivities, celebration, togetherness – our feasts at Christmas time should be all these things and more.

The image of the groaning table is familiar for painting a picture of what this time of year has meant to us all for generations.

I am all for nostalgia, but there’s no denying that, even at the most wonderful time of the year, such an amount of delicious abundance can often lead to unnecessary food waste that is all too common, especially at Christmas.

In 2022, Ireland wasted 146kg of food per person per year. Food waste contributes to climate change through wasted resources such as soil and water, and releasing carbon and methane into the atmosphere as food breaks down in landfill.

Managing what we buy, how we cook and eat it is a climate conscious action we can all easily do, and making small changes in the way we shop, prep, cook and eat doesn’t have to mean we feel like we are missing out on Christmas abundance!

For ways to have a Climate Conscious Christmas for the most important feast of the year, follow these easy and simple steps for success!

Shop

Climate-conscious actions begin before we even leave the house! An easy win is taking stock of what you already have, and plan to use it.

Then plan the menu as carefully as you can. Considering number of guests, food allergies or preferences means you only buy what you need, reducing the potential for food waste.

Take one veg and figure out how many ways you can use every bit.

For example: apart from roasting potatoes, wash their skins before peeling, keep them, pat dry, season, then bake or air fry to make potato skin crisps.

Turn leftover roasties into potato salad, or spice things up with a Bombay Aloo.

Bring your own clean reusable containers and bags with you to the shops. Most butchers will be happy to use your Tupperware.

Choosing loose fruits and veggies steers you away from multipacks or multi-buys, and use your own reusable bags instead of paper bags provided by the shop.

Prep

When it comes to prep, the freezer is your only man! Blanching, bagging and freezing veg means you have enough for the whole festive season ready, and portioned for using only what you need.

Check out the bargain baskets in super-markets. Veg not sold from here will become food waste and is usually heavily discounted. It’s a great way to add something to your offering, but only if it’s still good and you have a way to use it (e.g. spiced squash soup). Veggies that can be put in the freezer (e.g. root veggies) are ideal for this.

Batch making things like gravy, bread sauce or stuffing is a great idea because it can be portioned and, again, freezes well. There’s always too much of these made, so it’s a great way to swerve that mistake!

Cook

Cooking is the trickiest area to be more climate-conscious as appliances use lots of electricity and often run for hours.

Figure out your timing: Most parts of the traditional Christmas dinner can be cooked together or in succession at the same temperature. Whatever the centrepiece, it will usually go in the oven first, followed by potatoes if roasting. Cut in equal sizes, carrots and parsnips will cook at the same rate and go in after the spuds along with any extra stuffing.

A decent-sized oven is a bonus so do check the size of what needs to go in rather than assuming it’ll all fit!

Consider other appliances you may have. Air fryers can be more energy-efficient than ovens and can cook multiple things with different drawers.

If you prefer your veggies steamed than roasted, a multi-tier steamer can be loaded up, pre-programmed and left to cook everything to perfection. Flavours, such as seasonings, butter or fresh herbs, can be lashed on after.

Go easy on the washing up! Plate up rather than putting each element on a different serving platter. Guests can always ask for more!

If boiling water for cooking veggies, can you reuse that pan of water for cooking something else or for flavouring your gravy?

Eat

If there is a meaty centrepiece, make a more climate-conscious choice by ordering from your local craft butcher, especially one that works with a local farmer, to keep the food miles low.

Source a different cut or smaller size to reduce the amount of meat overall and make veggies the stars of the show.

Source as many locally seasonally grown vegetables as possible as most of the veggies for Christmas dinner are in season in Ireland.

Choose Irish carrots, parsnips, sprouts, spuds and red cabbage rather than those flown in from far flung places. It will reduce the overall carbon footprint of your big feast, and help support local growers, too.

Desserts

Could you live without a chocolate dessert? Maybe pastry isn’t your forte, but could you support a local baker or celebrate Irish grown apples and pears for a different take on a festive dessert.

Go savoury with an all-Cork cheeseboard showcasing iconic farmhouse cheesemakers.

Drinks

Think there’s no such thing as Irish wine? Think again! From the handcrafted Champagne Ciders and sparkling Perry from Cork-based Killahora Orchards, to oak-aged apple wine from Nohoval Apple Wines, to Kinsale Mead’s honeyed wines to locally brewed beers and distilled spirits.

We have more choice of locally made, small batch, artisan drinks worthy of a festive celebration than ever before.

Climate-conscious actions begin before we even leave the house! An easy win is taking stock of what you already have and plan to use it.