By Isabella Mortimer, age 12

When we go food shopping most of the items that we need are in plastic or are covered by a material that isn’t degradable or eco-friendly. So, in this article, I will be sharing with you some of the best places and ways to get everything you need on your weekly food shop but also be eco-friendly.

In our village there are loads of different shops that offer us stations to fill up our pastas, washing up liquids, fabric conditioners and many different foods that, when we buy them in the supermarket, are covered in plastic packaging. For example, Cloughs, Ounce (the new shop in our village) and Truffles (the new bakery) are all helping the fight against plastic by providing alternatives.

Researching places that are near you and that sell foods in non-plastic packaging, doesn’t take long, but it makes so much of a difference to the planet. It involves some planning but all you need are some jars, like mayonnaise and jam jars or Ounce sell them.

Lots of swaps are possible when you make it yourself:

• Easy homemade bread buns (https://bit.ly/3seZdwd)

• Easy granola (https://bit.ly/2OLFHty)

• Easy coleslaw (https://bit.ly/3uPhySq)

Tortillas are a real favourite but they come in packaging that can’t be recycled and this recipe shows how easy they are to make and freeze. No kneading, no proving – they can be made before school and work. Ingredients for tortilla wraps (this makes 12): 180g of strong white bread flower, 200g plain or wholemeal flour, ½ teaspoon of salt, 250ml lukewarm water, three tablespoons of olive oil and ¼ teaspoon baking powder.

Instructions: Mix the flours, salt and baking powder in a bowl, pour in the water and olive oil. Stir until it becomes a dough. After that slice the dough into 12 pieces and roll out each one with a rolling pin. Then cook each one on a frying pan (no oil) until it forms air bubbles and or starts to harden. And that’s all you need to do! It is so quick and requires no waiting!

Enjoy some great spring lunches and suppers.