When you choose a restaurant, you do so in order to enjoy a delicious and well-prepared meal. With a few minor changes, you can still enjoy a good steak or a deliciously cooked fish and still reduce your environmental impact. Many restaurants strive to reduce their environmental footprint by using the right ingredients and products, as well as by minimising waste and optimising cooking.
When cooking at home or arranging catering for your event, it is good to consider what you can do for the environment by making a few minor adjustments.
By implementing the following suggestions you can make environmentally conscious choices when you eat out, prepare meals or order food:
- Choose a venue which serves a la carte instead of buffets. If you choose buffet-style meals, take only what you can eat to avoid food waste. If allowed, use doggy bags for leftovers!
In Denmark, we throw away over 700,000 tons of food every year. Food waste can be reduced when shopping, cooking, serving, as well as after meals. Reducing food waste is not only good for the environment; it is common sense and cost saving.
- Eat less meat and more vegetables. If you do eat meat, choose free-range and organic animal products.
Conditions for farm animals are not always humane and sustainable, so choose animal products that are free range and organic instead of unhealthy alternatives. This results in a sustainable meat production industry and is a healthier choice for you.
- When eating fish, ensure that it is ASC or MSC certified.
Overfishing, certain fishing methods, extraction of marine resources and contamination pose a major threat to fish populations. Purchasing the right type of fish minimises damage to oceans and fish populations.
- Choose local, seasonal and organic produce. Look for the organic cuisine label to ensure responsible processes and products. Local and seasonal produce often create less of an environmental footprint and usually taste better than produce transported over long distances. Seasonal produce is less likely to be grown in an artificial way and is, therefore, the environmentally friendly choice. Enjoy what the Nordic seasons and cuisine have to offer. Organic produce means products grown or produced with the environment in mind - using less toxic repellents and more environmentally friendly production methods. They are safer for you and the environment. It is even possible to purchase organic beverages, beer and wine.