Eating healthy and sustainable food

What we eat affects both our health and the planet. The Eatwell Guide shows how to make balanced meals by filling your plate mostly with fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains – and having smaller amounts of dairy and protein foods.

Following The Eatwell Guide and wasting less food can help lower emissions, support your health, and make it easier to enjoy meals that give you steady energy throughout the day.

View The Eatwell Guide

Scottish households wasted 460,000 tonnes of food in 2021/22 – and 73% of it was still good to eat. Most of the waste came from fresh vegetables and salads, and evening meals were the most common time food was thrown away. Wasted food creates around 1.3 million tonnes of harmful emissions each year, so reducing it is one of the biggest ways we can cut the carbon impact of Scotland’s waste.

You can help by planning meals, buying only what you need, and storing food properly. If you have too much, offer it to friends or family. If you still have leftovers you cannot use, recycle them if you have food waste collection, or compost them at home.

These small steps help lower emissions and support Scotland’s transition to net zero. Reducing food waste also saves money. In 2021/22, it cost Scottish households £1.3 billion – about £240 per person.

Food that’s grown in season at the right time of year takes less energy to produce because it doesn’t need heated greenhouses. Seasonal food is often fresher and full of flavour – like strawberries in summer or root vegetables in winter. Choosing in-season food helps you enjoy tasty, nutritious meals with a smaller environmental impact.

Growing your own food is a great way to cut down on packaging waste and reduce the number of trips to the shops. It’s rewarding too – you’ll be eating fresh, seasonal produce and helping Scotland move closer to net zero.

You don’t need a big garden to get started. Try growing herbs in a window box or a few pots of fruit and veg on a patio or balcony. By growing your own food, you’ll also be eating in season. Here are some ideas for what to grow throughout the year:

• Spring: potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, leeks, sweetcorn, courgettes, squash
• Summer: chicory, pumpkins
• Autumn: raspberries, gooseberries, broad beans
• Winter: apples, rhubarb, onions

If you don’t have a garden, you could apply for an allotment, join a community garden, or take part in a local garden share scheme.