Here is an overview of the carbon footprint for individual courses and drinks of a traditional Christmas Eve dinner for a family of 4. The values are indicative and take into account average data available for Slovak conditions.

1. Honey and garlic wafers

• Ingredients for 4 servings: 8 wafers, 50 g honey, 2 cloves garlic.
• Carbon footprint:
  • Wafers: 0.5 kg CO₂e (wheat flour, production and transport).
  • Honey: 0.15 kg CO₂e (local production).
  • Garlic: 0.02 kg CO₂e (homegrown, low impact).
  • Total: 0.67 kg CO₂e

2. Cabbage

• Ingredients for 4 servings: 500 g sauerkraut, 200 g mushrooms, 100 g sausage (or vegan alternative), 2 l water, spices.
• Carbon footprint:
  • Sauerkraut: 0.2 kg CO₂e (local sources).
  • Mushrooms: 0.1 kg CO₂e.
  • Sausage: 1.4 kg CO₂e (animal production). With the vegan alternative: 0.3 kg CO₂e.
  • Transport and cooking: 0.2 kg CO₂e.
  • Total: 1.9 kg CO₂e (with meat) / 1.0 kg CO₂e (vegan version).

3. Fish and potato salad

• Ingredients for 4 servings: 1 kg of carp (or trout), 1 kg of potatoes, 300 g of mayonnaise, 200 g of vegetables (carrots, peas).
• Carbon footprint:
  • Carp: 1.3 kg CO₂e (local). Trout: 1.1 kg CO₂e.
  • Potatoes: 0.2 kg CO₂e.
  • Mayonnaise: 0.8 kg CO₂e.
  • Vegetables: 0.1 kg CO₂e.
  • Cooking and frying: 0.5 kg CO₂e.
  • Total: 2.9 kg CO₂e (carp) / 2.7 kg CO₂e (trout).

4. Bobalky or toast with poppy seeds

• Ingredients for 4 servings: 300 g of berries, 50 g of poppy seeds, 50 g of honey.
• Carbon footprint:
  • Bobalky: 0.8 kg CO₂e.
  • Poppy: 0.1 kg CO₂e.
  • Honey: 0.15 kg CO₂e.
  • Total: 1.05 kg CO₂e

5. Stedrák or strudel

• Ingredients for 4 servings: 1 Štedrák (poppy seed, walnut, cottage cheese filling).
• Carbon footprint:
  • Flour, eggs, sugar: 1.0 kg CO₂e.
  • Nuts, cottage cheese, poppy seeds: 1.2 kg CO₂e.
  • Baking: 0.3 kg CO₂e.
  • Total: 2.5 kg CO₂e

6. Drink: Christmas punch and tea

• Ingredients for 4 servings: 1 l of water, 300 ml of fruit juice, 100 ml of alcohol (optional), tea bags.
• Carbon footprint:
  • Tea: 0.05 kg CO₂e.
  • Fruit juice: 0.1 kg CO₂e.
  • Alcohol: 0.5 kg CO₂e.
  • Heating: 0.2 kg CO₂e.
  • Total: 0.35 kg CO₂e (without alcohol) / 0.85 kg CO₂e (with alcohol).

Total carbon footprint of Christmas Eve dinner:

• With meat option: Approx. 9.37 kg CO₂e for 4 people.
• With vegan alternatives: Approx. 7.47 kg CO₂e for 4 people.

Tips for reducing your carbon footprint:

• Use local ingredients: Raw materials grown in your region have a lower footprint because they don't require long transportation.
• Use vegan alternatives: Replace animal products with plant-based alternatives that are more environmentally friendly.
• Minimize energy consumption: Use energy-efficient appliances, such as a pressure cooker, to reduce emissions when cooking.
• Prevent food waste: Plan your food quantities to avoid waste and use leftovers for other meals.

Co2AI