Five sustainable ways to enjoy the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme

Five sustainable ways to enjoy the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme

The ‘Eat Out To Help out’ scheme is a fantastic opportunity to support businesses affected by COVID19. But are we doing it sustainably? 

Covid19 has caused a crisis in the hospitality industry. To support struggling businesses, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme, boosting demand  in the hospitality industry and getting diners through restaurant doors to help save 1.8 million jobs. With this scheme, diners can enjoy 50% off meals every Monday to Wednesday until the end of August. Here are some of the sustainable ways for you to enjoy the scheme…

1.Walk, Cycle, and Scoot!

According to EPA.GOV the average passenger vehicle emits around 404 grams of CO2 per mile. To off-set your passenger vehicle carbon footprint, It is advisable for you to walk or take a cleaner form of transportation (bikes & push scooters) to the restaurants offering the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme. Not only is this good for the environment, but it is also good for your health, as you will burn calories in preparation for your sustainable meal out.

You can find restaurants registered for the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme here.

2.SHARING is CARING

Food waste is one of the biggest issues faced by the hospitality industry. Big Hospitality states for every meal eaten in the UK restaurants, nearly half a kilo of food is wasted – through preparation, spoilage and what gets left behind on dinner plates. WRAP (Waste and Resource Action Programme) claims food waste costs the UK restaurants around 682mil per year.

To avoid wasting food, be mindful of the amount of food you order. Think about splitting an appetiser or entree with a dining partner if you believe the portions are too big. If you cannot finish everything, we recommend you take leftovers home and, either save it for yourself, family, friends, or even your super cute pet! Once you are finished with your leftovers, be sure to throw away the takeaway containers in the right recycling bin.

3.You Are What You Eat

The sustainable restaurant association exists to accelerate change towards an environmentally restorative & socially progressive hospitality sector in the UK. They have listed multiple restaurants that live and breathe sustainability. A majority of these restaurants source ingredients locally and seasonally so they don’t have to be flown in; decreasing the UK’s carbon footprint. 

Eating at restaurants that serve local and seasonal food tend to taste better and be more nutritious. Once ingredients are separated from its source a higher rate of respiration occurs in the product, nutrient degradation, and moisture loss lowering its freshness and flavour impact. 

By eating at these restaurants you’ll be investing back into your local economy, which helps sustain local producers and create local jobs, strengthening the restaurant’s ecosystem, damaged by COVID19. 

4.Reduce Your Meat Intake Or Become Vegetarian

A plant-based vegetarian meal is a lot more sustainable than an omnivorous one. Just for context, it requires approximately 6kg of plant protein to produce 1kg of animal protein meaning you get more bang for your buck. 

Animal agriculture is the leading cause for resource depletion and is responsible for 18%-25% of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation. By eating less meat you can dramatically reduce your ecological footprint causing less harm to the great mother earth. 

Eating more greens also provides amazing health benefits and can bring balance to your diet. It also reduces the risk of heart disease by inputting rich fibre, minerals, and vitamins into your body. According to numerous studies vegetarians are more likely to have a healthier BMI, controlled blood pressure, low cholesterol and have a longer life span.

5.Too Much To Handle

We love the thought of unlimited food but unfortunately buffets play a big role in food wastage. A majority of the leftovers will be thrown away and diners tend to serve too much food on their plates leaving an unnecessary unsustainable mess. If you do dine out at a buffet restaurant be sure to eat as much as you can and secretly store food in your pockets for later – this activity is not endorsed by us. We recommend you avoid buffets at all costs, if you wish to be sustainable.

[mc4wp_form id=”414548″]