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TwitterWe’ve got our finger on the pulse this Winter. Read on to find out all our healthy, sustainable and fair food news.
Power to the Pulses – We are on a mission to get people eating more pulses. Think fish and chips with a side of mushy peas, or the more recent menu additions like dhal and hummus. These little powerhouses boost your health, help our planet, and ease the strain on your wallet too! Read more about pulses and we have our finger on the pulse: Celebrating Pulses and Northern England has it’s finger on the pulse.
Please join GFEI’s upcoming webinar by Dr Andy Newing, School of Geog. Andy will deliver a webinar exploring if online groceries and branded convenience stores help alleviate contemporary food deserts (neighbourhoods lacking good access to fresh, healthy and affordable food).
Traditional Food Markets – In the UK eight supermarkets currently control 95% of the grocery market (Kantar World Panel), yet traditional food markets have potential to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable food system addressing pressing issues like the cost-of-living crisis and climate change. Prof Sara Gonzalez explores how a new research project advocates for public policies that can expand the region’s ‘right to food’ here.
Love is in the Pulses – We are interested in raising pulses in our communities. World Pulses Day is celebrated on February 10th each year. It’s an international day that recognises the importance of pulses for health, sustainable living and you can get involved by going to FAO website. Or Check out this informative article from The Food Foundation and from FAO on the Power of Pulses.
Support Community Composting!
A huge thank you to Annie Whitehead for her outstanding efforts in promoting community composting in Leeds. Annie is also the 2025 winner of BEST COMPOSTING in Feed Leeds Growing Awards.
She also took on the challenge of weighing all her food waste before composting it over a year, diverting 115 kg from one household! Imagine the impact if every household did this. Want to support similar projects? If you can, please consider donating and/ or sharing with your networks via this link.
Share, Eat and Celebrate Good Food:
Feed Leeds had their annual celebration at Meanwood Farm to celebrate local food growing heroes with their Local Food Growing Awards presentations this week. It was a great evening for networking and learning about food growing projects across Leeds, accompanied by a delicious meal. A little film about Get Growing Leeds here:
International Women’s Day 2025
Celebrate International Women’s Day with the classic Palestinian dish Maqluba (vegan option available) whilst watching the film ‘Bye Bye Tiberias’ made by Lina Soualem as part of Leeds Palestinian Festival at HEART Centre Leeds on 7 Mar 6pm. More info here.
Food Stories
This February why not come together to talk over food? Food Stories is a free community project in Leeds designed to bring people together through the power of food. Funded by Tracy Brabin and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and Leeds City Council, and delivered by the Leeds-based charity Zest. Read more here about the Meanwood project.
‘Good Samaritan Laws and Surplus Food – A Solution in Need of a Problem?’
The Global Food and Environment Institute (GFEI) invites you to their February 2025 webinar.
Redistributing surplus food minimizes waste and addresses food insecurity. Since 2015, the UK has tripled its efforts, yet much potential remains untapped due to “fear of liability” among donors concerning recipient health.
Not your Average Corner Shop
A shout out to Eat Your Greens and Greens Grocer. It is the newly opened grocers in the Climate Innovation District down by Leeds Dock. They champion fresh organic healthy produce available in the UK. And while you are down there, why not check out Pig Love and Fearns.
They love to showcase incredible organic veg and other locally sourced products.
Want a Super Fresh Veg Box?
Ever fancied having a super-fresh, chemical-free veg box every week, from an actual farm? Join the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) scheme where you, the eaters, are directly supporting the food growers and local food in the community.
There are schemes you can join locally at Meanwood Valley Farm and Kirkstall Valley Farm
Why not give it a go?
Courses at Leeds Cookery School – The new year is here, and so is Leeds Cookery School’s exciting line-up of cookery classes that promise to tantalise your taste buds.
Leeds Cookery School have a range of brilliant courses. We really liked the look of their Street Food Express: Dim Sum class.
Why not book a class for a friend or loved one?
Lunch Club from Eat Your Greens – Is February the new January? Eat Your Greens think so, and are keeping a bit of that January spirit alive to help us all power through with Lunch Club – 2 for £15 on selected plates every Thursday and Friday between 12 and 3pm. Eat Your Greens create delicious and sustainably prepared dishes, supporting local organic producers because, (in their own words) it’s good for the planet, good for you and good for the farmers that grow it.
Let’s give them some love!
Cooking with Pulses – Did you know that pulses count as one of your five -a-day? So why not add more pulses like beans, peas and lentils to your tea? Like one of these carlin peas recipes from Hodemedods, whose pulses and grains are British-grown – and always will be!
Find more recipes with peas, beans and other pulses in the recipes section of our website. Got your own great recipe with pulses? Add it to our recipes so we can share with others.