Mmm. The best part of Christmas, if you ask me. The only time of year you can indulge with an excuse. For gluttons like me, there’s nothing better. But how can you stay as green as possible, as the belt begins to strain? As well as the worries the recession brings? Well, read on….

Food
Everyone knows the usual advice: organic turkey from a local butcher. Now, this is far and away the best idea. But…I hate turkey. It is the blandest, driest, most boring of meats. And nothing you can do can change that. So why not get a chicken or two? Kinder on the purse strings, and on the taste buds. Again, stick to an organic free range bird from the local butcher, if you can. This is where you can really taste the difference; it’s not a marketing ploy. Organic meat is undoubtedly more expensive, but there’s good reason for this. A chicken for ?5? If you really think about it, you don’t want that. So spend your money here, and you will reap the benefits.

With the money spent on a bird, you may want to keep the other accessories low. You may think your cheap bird saves you money, but in the supermarket how much more do you spend on the sparkly distractions? Christmas music is blaring, smells are being pumped, and somehow those two tins of Celebrations work their way into the trolly. Before you know it, you’re ?100 down. And most of these things (Celebrations aside) just taste dreadful. It’s just MSG. Why not make a few treats this year? It always works out cheaper, tastes better (assuming you can cook) and is a bit of craic.

The buy local theme continues with the rest of the Christmas dinner. Try and get yourself to a market, and stock up on beautiful farm fresh carrots, spuds and onions. And the best part of all? Sprouts. Buy THEM from a farmer and you’ll never get over the sight. Plus you’re left with a Christmassy sabre at the end of it. A present for the kids! Everyone’s happy. The cost is really not as bad as you’d think here. We just picked up a massive sack of carrots and onions for ?10, and it’s lasted us at least a month. So know your grower! And don’t get sucked in to the poncey veg sellers who charge ridiculous amounts and just serve to keep people out of markets and into Tesco. You know who you are!

When you do have to pop into the supermarket (and you know you will. Even Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall has to, and don’t let him tell you otherwise!) make sure you go on a full stomach, with a detailed list. Check the labels for country of origin, and ask yourself if you really need the broad beans from Israel.

Finally, if you have the balls, do as the Germans do, and remove all the plastic wrapping from your veg at the till. Brava! And you didn’t get that from me.

Read the Original Article at Ard Nahoo Eco Retreat Blog