Nowadays, as more and more people are concerned about sustainability and protecting the environment, the question of what we eat is becoming crucial. 

From greenhouse gas emissions to water and land consumption, our eating habits have a huge impact on the planet. Vegan cooking is one of the most effective ways to reduce our carbon footprint while enjoying delicious and nutritious meals. 

In this article, we'll take a look at how to cook sustainably and offer specific tips, recipes and inspiration to get you started.

Why does vegan cooking have a lower carbon footprint?

Imagine that every plate of food you prepare is like a story. A story that starts in the field, continues through factories and transportation, and ends up on your table. 

For animal products, this story is often much longer and more resource-intensive. 

For example, producing 1 kg of beef requires up to 15 000 litres of water and produces approximately 27 kg of CO2 equivalent. 

By contrast, growing pulses, cereals or vegetables has a much smaller environmental impact.

A vegan diet not only eliminates the emissions associated with animal farming, but also promotes more sustainable use of land and water. 

And what is the best? Vegan meals can be incredibly tasty, creative and packed with nutrients.

How to start cooking sustainably?

1. Choose local and seasonal ingredients

Local foods have a lower carbon footprint because they don't require long transportation. Plus, seasonal vegetables and fruits are often fresher, tastier and cheaper. 

For example, in autumn you can use pumpkins, potatoes, carrots or beetroot, while in spring focus on asparagus, spinach or peas.

2. Minimise food waste

Millions of tonnes of food are wasted every year, which has a huge impact on the environment. Learn to make use of leftovers - for example, use vegetable peelings for stock, overripe bananas for banana bread and leftover rice for fried rice with tofu.

3. Cook simply but efficiently

Sustainable cooking doesn't have to be complicated. Focus on simple recipes that use basic ingredients such as pulses, grains, nuts and seeds. These foods are not only nutritious but also have a low carbon footprint.

Recipe

This recipe is a perfect example of a sustainable vegan dish. It uses seasonal pumpkin, which is rich in vitamins, and chickpeas, which are a great source of protein.

Ingredients:

- 1 medium Hokkaido pumpkin

- 1 onion

- 2 cloves of garlic

- 1 l vegetable broth

- 200 ml coconut milk

- 1 can of chickpeas

- 1 tbsp olive oil

- Spices: turmeric, cumin, salt, pepper

Procedure:

1. Wash the pumpkin, cut it open and remove the seeds (you can dry them and use them as a healthy snack). Cut it into smaller pieces.

2. Fry the chopped onion and garlic in olive oil, add the pumpkin and spices. Fry briefly.

3. Pour in the vegetable stock and cook until the pumpkin is soft (about 15 minutes).

4. In the meantime, prepare the chickpea croutons: dry the chickpeas, mix them with a little olive oil, salt and cumin and bake in the oven at 200 °C for about 20 minutes until crispy.

5. Blend the soup until smooth, add the coconut milk and season. Serve with chickpea croutons.

Other tips for sustainable vegan cooking

- Take inspiration from world cuisine: Indian lentil soup (dal), Mexican tacos with beans or Thai curry with tofu - all of these dishes are vegan, tasty and have a low carbon footprint.

- Grow your own herbs: even on a small balcony you can grow basil, parsley or coriander, reducing the need to buy pre-packaged herbs.

- Use alternative sources of protein: Instead of meat, try tempeh, seitan or pulses. Lentils, for example, are a great source of iron and protein, and their production has a minimal impact on the environment.

Conclusion

Cooking vegan meals with a low carbon footprint is not only about protecting the planet, but also about discovering new flavours, improving health and creating a better future for us all. Every step we take towards more sustainable eating is worthwhile. 

Whether you start with simple recipes like pumpkin soup or take on growing your own vegetables, every action you take contributes to protecting our beautiful planet.

So, will you try something new today? 🌱