THE FUTURE OF FOOD

EAT LESS MEAT

The planet-positive power of eating more plants

One of the best (and easiest) ways to improve both your health and the environment is to increase how many plants you eat in comparison to animals and animal products. “Meat, fish and dairy can all be important sources of nutrition; however, in the UK we eat almost double the amount of meat compared to the global average,” says WWF’s Sustainable Diets Manager, Liam Walsh. Their 2019 Future 50 Foods Report (launched in partnership with Knorr) focusses on plant-based foods for a reason: they have a lower impact on our planet than animal-based foods. Why not try upping your intake of vegetables, grains, cereals, seeds, legumes and nuts (all easily found at your local supermarket) and reducing how much meat you eat? And, make sure you vary those, too. “Eating too much of any one food is not good for you or the planet – by eating a greater variety, you can start making a change for you, others and the planet,” says Liam. 

We’re always on the lookout for amazing vegan products to stock in our Foodhall, and we’re providing more meat-free and plant-based dishes at our restaurants, like our Grass Rail vegan menu at our oldest restaurant at Selfridges London, The Brass Rail – anyone for a salt beet sandwich? Why not join us in this mission (or just try some of our delicious vegan dishes to start).

EAT WITH THE FORESTS IN MIND 

The story of palm oil-free products

At Selfridges, we’re committed to tackling deforestation in the food supply chain, which is why we completely eliminated the use of palm oil in our Selfridges Selection range last year. “Palm oil itself isn’t inherently bad – in fact, it has a very high yield and is extremely versatile,” explains Jessica Abela, Product Developer at Selfridges. “The issue lies with the current demand for palm oil, which is causing mass deforestation across Southeast Asia.” Tropical forests have a rich biodiversity and are home to many species (including some near extinction), and these forests are currently being drained and burned to make way for the planting of palm. This destroying of carbon-rich soil and the releasing of carbon into the atmosphere is contributing to climate change. So, you can see why it was important to us to make our Selfridges Selection range palm oil free (as well as taking other steps towards being more sustainable, such as using home-compostable packaging, paper and card from certified, responsibly managed forests and sustainably sourced cocoa and coffee). 

SHAKE UP YOUR STORE CUPBOARD 

WWF’s pick of future-facing foods

Did you know that globally 75% of the food we eat comes from only 12 plant and five animal species? This negatively impacts not just our health but the health of the planet. “Our bodies need a variety of nutrients, and the planet also benefits from a variety of food being cultivated,” explains Liam Walsh, Sustainable Diets Manager at WWF. “At WWF, we want people to shop sustainably, with the intent to preserve the environment.” 

With a growing number of ‘conscious consumers’ wanting to make the change, WWF recognised the need to help people identify more food items that are better for their health and the environment. This is why they teamed up with Knorr to create the Future 50 Foods Report to identify 50 foods that are nutritious and have a lower impact on our planet – from those that give off less greenhouse emissions when grown, to crops that need less water and are resistant to drought. The report includes 50 vegetables, grains, cereals, seeds, legumes and nuts from across the globe (think lentils, quinoa, mushrooms, seaweed and the like) that, if introduced into our diets, can help make for a more future-proof way to dine. We think it’s great, which is why we based our Project Earth Foodhall around this report – visit us at Selfridges London to discover the selection of future-facing ingredients.