Yes - you heard right, put more legumes, seeds and nuts in your dishes. Why?

To help reduce global warming, of course.

Slow Food Hunter Valley is embracing the Food for Change campaign – a Slow Food International movement to slow climate change with food choices.

According to a study in the Nature science journal last month, western countries can help slow temperature rises across the world if they eat a lot less meat. 

The not-for-profit group is armed with mystery bags to give Hunter cooks a taste of climate-friendly cooking, and they promise it will be a tasty affair. 

They have launched a cooking competition to entice families to make meat-free meals. 

Co-leader Helen Hughes said the challenge was a way residents could learn how their daily actions can have an impact on the global environment. 

“Slow Food Hunter Valley is supporting the global effect to reduce climate change and this challenge encourages people to eat less meat, eat local and reduce waste – all ways we can have a positive impact on the environment,” Ms Hughes said.

“The challenge compels people to rethink their eating practices and hopefully encourages them to make lifestyle changes to protect the environment.”

Cooks who buy a $15 mystery bag of selected ingredients and make a meat free meal with it can post their creations on social media before midnight November 30 and go in the running to win a prize. 

Shoppers can also buy $15 worth of ingredients – including a can of pulses, from their local farmers market or produce store to enter the competition. 

There is no limit on the number of dishes participants can enter during the timeframe. 

They must name their dish, provide the recipe and upload a photo of the dish on the Slow Food Hunter Valley Facebook page or on their own Instagram page using the hashtags #foodforchange #slowfoodhuntervalley and #earthmarketsmaitland.

Those who don’t have social media can email their entry to slowfoodhuntervalley@gmail.com or drop it off to Readers Cafe & Larder at East Maitland Library.

The judges will look for creative and tasty entries that have several ingredients and highlight pulses.

Three winners will receive a copy of Tami Hardiman’s new cookbook Power Pulses and an overall winner will enjoy a meal for four at Estabar Café in Newcastle.

Slow Food Hunter Valley will announce the winners at 6.30pm on December 6 during its Terra Madre Day celebration in The Levee.