Are you looking to turn over a new leaf this year?  If you’re still trying to decide on a new year’s resolution, think food! Not calorie counting or cutting out chocolate, but giving new foods or new ways of shopping a try instead. This could mean buying from a local veg box scheme, growing your own, or even volunteering at a community project where you can take home a share of the day’s harvest in return for you help on the plot.

Some ideas for food resolutions:

Growing your own: if you’ve never grown anything, give it a try! Salad leaves such as mixed lettuce and rocket are very easy to grow, even in very small spaces, as are potatoes, tomatoes and strawberries. Or if you’re already doing some growing, try growing something new or a heritage seed variety. You can find lots of heritage seeds, as well as seeds saved in Brighton at Seedy Sunday on 5 February.

Buy more local food: have you ever tried a local veg box? Buying your weekly supply of vegetables from a local farm is a great way of supporting local business and eating seasonal foods.  And it’s not just veg - you can also order extras like fruit, eggs, bread and honey. Veg box customers are likely to receive different kinds of vegetables and varieties that you don’t normally find at the supermarket, but don’t worry; recipes are often supplied to give you ideas about how to cook more unusual vegetables. Local boxes to try include Ashurst Organics, Barcombe Nurseries and Hankham Organics. You don’t have to commit to a regular delivery, just give it a try and see what you think! More about box schemes here.

Volunteer at a project: There are lots of community growing projects around Brighton & Hove that hold regular workdays for anyone who wants to come along and learn more about gardening. The perks include getting fresh air, exercise, great views, learning new things and usually taking home a share of the day’s harvest. More info about where you can volunteer.

Enquire about your food: don’t be afraid to ask restaurants, shops, fishmongers, cafes where they get their produce from. Show your support local, ethical food, and inspire your favourite food outlets to source more local produce!