Sustainable Eating Habits

In today's environmentally-conscious world, it is increasingly important to consider not just what we eat, but how our dietary choices impact the planet. Sustainable eating is more than just a trend: it is a necessary shift to mitigate the effects of climate change. Because what we eat plays a role in the health of our environment, there are some things to consider when trying to make changes to decrease your impact without breaking the bank.

When people talk about eating locally as a climate solution, they are usually talking about the energy and resources needed to get the produce from the farm to your kitchen. Supporting local farms promotes a more resilient local food economy and can encourage sustainable agricultural practices. While it can be overwhelming at times, try to determine what produce is in season and eat that as much as possible.

The food system contributes to nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with meat and dairy production accounting for a significant portion. The production of beef and other red meat involves higher carbon emissions and more extensive land use and water consumption than poultry, fish, or plant-based proteins. Conversely, plant-based foods generally require fewer resources and emit lower amounts of greenhouse gasses. 

As a target, nutritional scientists recommend that adults eat less than half of an ounce of red meat per day, on average. That works out to about 3.5 ounces of red meat per week. (It is estimated that Americans currently consume on average between two and three ounces of red meat per day.) By reducing meat consumption -  particularly red meat - individuals can significantly lower their environmental impact. A study by the University of Oxford found that cutting meat and dairy products from your diet could reduce an individual's carbon footprint from food by up to 73 percent. By incorporating more poultry, fish, or plant-based proteins into your diet can lead to a more sustainable food system.

Eating only as much as you need can reduce food waste and decrease the demand for resource-intensive food production. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that 31 percent of food is wasted at the retail and consumer levels. This waste is not just a social or economic issue, but also a broader environmental problem. Food waste contributes to climate change through methane emissions when organic matter decomposes in landfills. Reducing food waste means being mindful of purchasing habits, improving food storage, and recycling food scraps through composting or other means.

Every meal is an opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment. By adopting sustainable eating habits, we can positively impact the climate. Sustainable eating not only benefits your health but also the planet.  It doesn't have to be all or nothing; every little step in the direction of sustainability is a step in the right direction!