Sustainable Eating Plans

What you choose to put on your plate can have the most significant impact on your carbon footprint. At least three times a day, you make choices about how to calm your growling belly and fuel your body – these choices can have a lighter or a heavier impact on Mother Earth. In the modern agricultural system, plant-based foods are grown using synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and fossil fuels, which degrade the soil and promote monocultures. These plants are fed to animals, often concentrated on farms where the animals live short and miserable lives. Their manure is concentrated, polluting the soil, waterways, and air.

If you are looking to change your eating habits, then here are some ways to do it without harming the environment and taking care of the other parts of the environment.

 

1. Eat more plants

Raising animals for meat and dairy requires space and vast amounts of water and feed. The livestock industry alone causes nearly 15% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. With meat consumption increasing 500% worldwide between 1992 and 2016, it is clear that we need to rebalance our diets by prioritizing veggies while moderating our intake of animal products.

2. Eat more varieties

As 75% of the world’s food supply comes from just 12 plants and five animal species. Greater diversity in our diet is essential, as the lack of variety in agriculture is bad for nature and a threat to food security.

3. Use your voice

There is no need to burn or cut down another tree. There is more than enough land to grow food to feed another 2 billion people by 2050. Help us put pressure on the government by demanding deforestation-free food.
Make a sign placard

4. Find out more about your fish

In the UK, people eat £4.5 billion worth of fish every year. Still, high demand and poor management have led to overfishing, which has dramatically reduced the number of firm favorites, such as North Sea cod and wild Atlantic salmon. When shopping, do look out for labels such as the blue MSC label or ASC, which indicate that the fish comes from a well-managed source and try lesser-known species such as pollock, saithe, and hake.

5. Reduce waste

We know that food waste is a big problem. Almost 30% of the food produced is wasted, with all the consequences for the environment. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the US. Reduce waste in your household is simple: freeze anything you can’t eat fresh and buy individual products whenever possible, so you can choose precisely the amount you need.

6. Grow your food

It is always better to have fresh, home-grown produce straight from the garden. Not only is it healthy and delicious, but it’s also free of the carbon footprint of store-bought food.

7. Look for products with RSPO certified palm oil.

The unsustainable palm oil is responsible for large-scale deforestation, threatening wildlife such as orangutans and tigers, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and a greater risk of climate change. However, rejecting palm oil altogether may have unintended consequences, as alternatives are maybe even worse for the environment, as up to nine times more land is needed to produce some varieties. When shopping, look for products with RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil.

8. Pass on plastic

Plastic has infiltrated our nature and even our diet. Bring a reusable bag when you store, choose packaging-free fruits and vegetables whenever possible, and ask brands and retailers that continue to use plastic to find alternatives.

9. Eat what’s in season

Try to incorporate seasonal produce from your local farm or greengrocer into your diet whenever possible. This will support the local economy and help you get to know local producers and get tips on preparing seasonal produce.

27
Oct, 2020

Sustainable Eating – What Is It About?

Sustainable food is not new, and you must have heard it many times before. It may sound difficult, but in reality it isn’t! Sustainable food is simply good, healthy food that is made without dangerous pesticides, chemicals, unnecessary antibiotics and growth stimulating supplements. In short, it’s about paying attention to what you put into your body and how the food you buy affects the environment. Many grocery stores are filled with organic food, and all aisles are dedicated to healthy eating. Sustainable food uses production techniques designed to protect the environment, public health, communities and animals.

This is the time of year when everyone starts thinking about all the food we give our bodies. As the holiday season approaches, some of us may be stressed and worried about what to eat or not to eat and find new ways to enjoy ourselves without feeling guilty. It is possible to adopt or stick to a sustainable eating lifestyle during the vacations and even afterwards.

Let’s take a look at what a sustainable plan can involve:

Adopting a sustainable food lifestyle means producing more food at home and giving up packaged food so as not to create excessive waste and end up filling up landfills. Yes, if there are a lot of people, but by taking a little time, you can do your part to make a significant impact on the environment for years to come.

Grow something. It could be herbs in a pot, tomatoes on a patio, or a small plot in your yard. There’s not much you can do to better appreciate what it takes to create food than to grow your own. You understand the multitude of factors involved in plant growth, the attention required to successfully grow food, and the precariousness of the process. This knowledge will likely influence how you buy, use and dispose of food.

Shop locally. Shopping locally is a fun way to support your community. It keeps your dollars in the community you live in and promotes a healthy and diverse environment. When you buy locally grown food, you reduce the amount of fuel needed to ship it to your market.

Start conversations about food. Talk to farmers at your market, grocery store staff and restaurateurs, or the growing number of people who pay attention to how food ends up on their plates. You can discover new tips, learn about new resources and find other local, sustainable food producers and suppliers.

Eat seasonally. Blueberries don’t grow in Montana in January, but you can always buy “fresh” blueberries at that time. That means they probably come from far away. Whenever possible, focus on foods that are available in the season you live in, and you’ll promote sustainability.

Tap your tap. Liquids are among the heaviest items to ship in the country, and it takes a lot of fossil fuel to transport them. Instead of buying bottled beverages, use a refillable bottle and fill it with tap or filter water.

Refresh your shopping list. Think about bulk foods, less processed foods and more plant-based meals. This means less packaging and waste and less energy and water used to produce certain foods.

Vote with your wallet and fork. There is no better way to influence the direction of our food system and what grocers, restaurateurs and food companies produce and sell than to influence their bottom line. Ask your food suppliers to support local farmers, local producers and sustainable agriculture. Show your support through your purchasing decisions.

Go local

Whether it’s meat, fish, dairy, fruit, or vegetables, purchasing directly from local butchers and farm shops is a great way to eat sustainably. Not only does it encourage local food production and boost the economy, but it reduces your carbon footprint as the food you’re buying won’t have travelled hundreds or thousands of miles. Local food shops and farmers markets usually operate on a much smaller scale than supermarket chains, meaning lower impact and less waste, too. The health benefits of going local include fruit and veg that is at its freshest – meaning that they’re likely still packed with nutrients when they land on your plate.