Welcome to At Home with Antony Worrall Thompson.

Everyone is talking about the credit crunch and now that we are in the middle of this recession it's proving to be a tough time for all of us. But there are plenty of ways that you can save pounds by producing less food waste, which is not only good for your purse but also for the environment, too. I shop for dry foodstuffs once a month and then stock up on fresh food as and when I need to - that way there is much less waste and you always have ingredients to hand. Using up leftovers is another good way to save money and waste and you can make some fantastically tasty meals that will cost you pennies if you do this.

I've been using organic produce for years, even before it was the 'done' thing and most of the food served in my six restaurants and pubs is locally sourced and homegrown on my UK and Spanish farms. And it's not that difficult to do - you can buy your own fruit and veg from farmers' markets and local shops so you save on fuel. Eat with the seasons and when you do your supermarket shopping avoid buying food that is over packaged.

The other thing we can all do is teach our children the value of home cooking - little ones love to get their hands dirty and while they are busy tasting and stirring, they are also learning how much fun cooking can be. Enjoy this packed festive issue.

Antony Worrall Thompson

Written By Antony Worrall Thompson
First Published in At Home with Antony Worrall Thompson, December 2008