(This article is written by Brid Conneely. Picture Source: Porter Farms & Nursery)

While most people in Northern Europe have been complaining about the worst summer in many years because of the rain, in the US the weather problem was too little rain. The drought in the Midwest has caused a rise in food prices of roughly 10% globally. So why is that? The drought affected the price of corns and soybeans. Since these foods are used to feed animals, the drought has indirectly driven the prices of meat and dairy products upwards. This, coupled with the government tax imposed on fats in Denmark, means that we are looking at quite a jump in food prices. Since we all still want good quality food at a reasonable price, here are some tips.

• Cut out frozen and processed foods

Not only are boxed, frozen foods more expensive, but they are also brim full of fat, sugar and salt. They also carry a much higher carbon footprint.

• Reduce meat intake

Looking for alternatives to meat may seem obvious for health reasons, but replacing meat a few times a week with vegetable proteins like beans, lentils, quinoa, and etc will definitely help reduce costs.

• Plan ahead

In Denmark, we throw out something like 60 kilograms of food per person a year. This is equivalent to burning money! Figure out what nutrients you need. Black beans (delicious) and popcorn may be the cheapest sources of fiber, for example. Think ahead and this will help you not buy more than you need.

• Preserve

This is the time of the year to buy/pick lots of healthy fruit and vegetables and makes jams, chutneys, pickled vegetables etc.

• Cook in a climate friendly way

Check out the great simple and effective tips provided by our wonderful food expert Birte Brorson at www.birtebrorson.dk