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Eating food where all ingredients are from Kent for a week - day 1

We've set our editorial apprentice, Rebecca Tuffin, the challenge to only eat foods where all ingredients are from Kent for a whole week.

She has now completed here first day - here's how it went.

Breakfast

Strawberries from Aylesford Farmers' Market, grown in Sittingbourne - £2
Strawberries from Aylesford Farmers' Market, grown in Sittingbourne - £2

I'm always in a rush in the morning, so I like to grab something quick and easy to eat.

Strawberries did the trick today.

I bought these, along with a variety of other fruits and vegetables, from a stall at a farmers' market run by a woman and her teenage son.

The berries were from Sittingbourne, just 10 miles from my home, and were £2.50 for a generous punnet.

Lunch

My lunch: chicken from Stour Valley Game, potatoes from Sittingbourne and cabbage from East Peckham
My lunch: chicken from Stour Valley Game, potatoes from Sittingbourne and cabbage from East Peckham

My lunch of chicken, potatoes and cabbage made me realise I need to get a bit more variety at my next shop if I'm going to last a week.

Much to my mum's delight, we found a slug on the cabbage - truly earthly.

The chickens were two for £10 from Stour Valley Game, where all meat products are from the deer, pigs and birds which roam free.

The potatoes and cabbage were from a fruit and veg market stall, grown in Sittingbourne and East Peckham - potatoes were £2 for a bag to feed six and the cabbage, £1.

Although the ingredients were high quality, the lack of seasoning made it a little dull.

Dinner

My dinner: Potato from Sittingbourne, bacon from Stour Valley Game, blue cheese from Kingcott Dairy and asparagus from Sutton Valence
My dinner: Potato from Sittingbourne, bacon from Stour Valley Game, blue cheese from Kingcott Dairy and asparagus from Sutton Valence

I visited a few farm shops during the day today and so I had a bit more to play with when it came to dinner options.

One problem I have already realised with buying locally is the majority of farm shops and markets are only open until about 5pm - when most people finish work.

Blue cheese from Kingcott Dairy in Staplehurst - £4.55
Blue cheese from Kingcott Dairy in Staplehurst - £4.55

So, unless you have a very relaxed work environment, it's sadly much more practical to stop off at the supermarket on your way home.

I had a jacket potato, (still using those from Sittingbourne), bacon from Stour Valley Game which was £3.33, asparagus for £1.39 from Haven Farm Shop in Sutton Valence, also grown in the village, topped with a sprinkling of blue cheese from Staplehurst which cost £4.55.

Bacon from Stour Valley Game in Chilham - £3.33
Bacon from Stour Valley Game in Chilham - £3.33

Along with a bottle of Dudda's Tun cider, bought for £3 and made in Doddington, my meal was pretty delicious.

Dudda's Tun cider, made in Doddington
Dudda's Tun cider, made in Doddington

I must admit, I might have accidentally eaten a small flapjack without realising today.

I was laughed at but I will forget my small mishap and continue with the challenge - bring on day two!

Tomorrow's daily update on what Rebecca has been eating will be published on KentOnline at 6am.

If you'd like to get involved in the challenge, send your pictures and where you bought your food to rtuffin@thekmgroup.co.uk or tweet @rtuffinKM with the hashtag #eatlocalkent

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