Consuming food in a way that is good for the environment is extremely important because agriculture is the single most important cause of environmental change. Over one hundred countries have made commitments to restore one billion hectares of agricultural land to its natural state, and major food makers have committed to sourcing their ingredients sustainably and engaging in farming practices that promote regenerative agriculture. But consumers also play an essential role in driving this transformation. The meals that require the least amount of resources to produce are also the healthiest for humans.
1. Consume less meat
By adhering to a tried-and-true strategy, the Planetary Health Diet endeavors to determine which food plan is optimal for both human and environmental well-being. The consumption of dairy products and poultry is kept to a moderate level, while the amount of red meat eaten is kept to a minimum. The diet is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, whole grains, and fish. The diet encourages eating fewer foods derived from animals and more meals derived from plants and places less of an emphasis on meat consumption. Read more on overeating red meat.
2. Buy and eat local
Because transportation accounts for no more than 10% of the environmental impact of a food’s life cycle, supporting your community’s economy and agriculture is essential to protecting the environment. Tomatoes grown in their native environment during the growing season can have a lower carbon footprint than those grown in greenhouses. It is ideal to eat produce that is fresh and in season, and visiting your neighborhood farmer’s market to purchase naturally grown produce that is in season is one way to reduce the distance that produce must travel from the farm to your plate.
3. Less processed and more pulses and nuts
Growing pulses like chickpeas and lentils, which are both examples of pulses, requires as little as one tenth of the amount of water that is required to produce meat. Because they produce a much smaller amount of greenhouse gas emissions than animal products do, nuts and pulses are another option worth considering. There is a correlation between eating processed foods and having poor health, including obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and dementia.
4. Reduce waste
It is essential to reduce waste since approximately one third of all food that is produced each year is lost or wasted, which accounts for eight percent of all greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans. Consumers can cut back on food waste by downloading applications such as Phenix and TooGoodToGo, signing up for peer-to-peer food waste apps, seeking out “ugly” fruit and vegetables, ensuring that the refrigerator is kept at the appropriate temperature, using portion calculators, and eating as much of each item as they possibly can. By the year 2030, it is anticipated that new food systems will constitute a profit pool equal to USD 1.5 trillion annually.
5. Something to consider
In the countries of the West, it is common practice to slaughter deer and rabbits in order to safeguard agriculture, wild vegetation, and seedling trees. This lean and protein-dense meat has a substantially smaller impact on the environment than meat that is produced in an industrial setting. Consumers can think about substituting beef with wild game and using charcoal that is produced locally and certified as coming from well-maintained forests if they want to reduce their impact on the environment. When using electricity generated from renewable sources, electric grills can achieve a net zero emission level. Look for locally produced certified charcoal if you want charcoal that originates from environmentally friendly sources.
