Healthy eating

Find out more about our work to improve food in Southwark.

Learn how to waste less food, eat less meat, find locally sourced food in Southwark and make healthier meals.

Our vision

We want a sustainable food system in Southwark to improve health and wellbeing for our population, to reduce inequalities and to protect the planet.

Southwark’s Sustainable Food Strategy was published in June 2023. We’ve worked jointly with Southwark Food Action Alliance (SFAA) and produced a sustainable food strategy for Southwark. Our action plan focuses on:

• reducing food insecurity and improving access to nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate food, including making Southwark a Right to Food borough​
• promoting a planet-friendly food system by supporting organisations and the local economy to champion local and sustainable food​
• creating opportunities for sustainable food initiatives to support local communities and in neighbourhood settings​

Read the full sustainable food strategy. 

We want to get everyone, including residents, organisations and businesses, involved in Good Food Southwark. 

How residents can get involved in Southwark

There are many ways that you can get involved in sustainable food. Some of these may even save you money and time! Choose one to start with, and then add more later:

• reduce the amount of packaged food you buy and buy food sold in recyclable packaging
• eat more fruit, vegetables, beans and pulses, and eat less meat and dairy; give Meat-free Monday a go or find local places to buy food cheaply and sustainably
• avoid wasting food by planning your meals and storing food properly - how to reduce your food waste at home
• buy local and seasonal food – local markets can be a great source of local, more affordable and seasonal food
• get involved in food growing - find out more about where you can do gardening in Southwark
• get inspired with Afro-Vegan Society recipes, demos and advice
• tips for how to save money and help the environment
• read more about eating sustainable food from the British Nutrition Foundation

How businesses can get involved in food sustainability in Southwark 

Sign up to Southwark Food Action Alliance: If you are a business, group or organisation, you can sign up to be part of our Food Partnership: Southwark Food Action Alliance (SFAA).

Southwark Food Action Alliance is an independent network, coming together to deliver a joined-up holistic food systems approach that increases food security and food equality in Southwark. 

By joining SFAA, you can stay up to date with what’s happening around food in Southwark, meet and collaborate with others, and find out about opportunities such as funding for food projects.  

Donate your surplus food or time to a food bank or pantry. 

Find out about how your business can recycle and have your food waste collected.

Make a Good Food Southwark pledge

Residents, organisations and businesses can show their support for Good Food Southwark by pledging to do one thing that contributes to a more sustainable food system in Southwark. Make your pledge by completing this form.

Some examples of pledges include:

• “We currently eat meat every day for dinner and would like to reduce the amount of meat we eat, so we will pledge to eat one meat-free meal each week as a family”
• “We currently only have one meat-free option available on our menu. We will change our menu to include more meat-free options”
• “We currently buy our food from a large supermarket instead of local shops or markets. We will pledge to buy fruit and vegetables from our local market each week.”