Locally sourced, plant-based foods are kind for the planet — and they can also improve human health. The earth and your body share much in common, and it makes sense to make your diet greener. Here’s how to eat more sustainably for better wellness while minimizing your carbon footprint.
Words: Mia Barnes
Image: Gabriella Clare Marino
1. Cut Down On Meat
Meat and dairy production alone accounts for nearly 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Many scientists believe humans must reduce their beef and pork consumption to protect the planet we call home.
Doing so could also save your health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), red meats qualify as probable carcinogens, particularly increasing colorectal cancer risks.
Going vegetarian or vegan is an excellent way to cut down your carbon footprint. If you want or need animal protein, why not look to the ocean? Farming and sourcing seafood produces far fewer greenhouse emissions than land-based animal sources when it’s done sustainably. Seafood is also rich in nutrients like selenium, which play vital roles in human health.
2. Make Friends at the Farmer’s Market
When producers have to transport foods over considerable distances, it creates tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Why opt for an apple grown on the opposite side of the country when you can get a fresher one at your farmer’s market while reducing your carbon footprint?
You’ll benefit your health by consuming more nutrients. Fruits and vegetables lose 30% of their vitamins and minerals just three days after harvest. The stuff at your grocers might be a week or two old, while farmers’ market fare may have come from the ground yesterday.
For even more bargains, go at the end of the day. Many local vendors would rather sell their wares at a discount than take it home to potentially rot — you can shave your grocery budget.
3. Go Homegrown
For even more cash-savings and nutritious, organic goodness, go homegrown. It doesn’t take much to learn to save the seeds from your produce, meaning you might not need a trip to the nursery.
Gardening is a fabulous form of exercise, and you get a sense of pride from harvesting your food from the earth. You also know what fertilizers and pesticides you did and didn’t use, guaranteeing your family the purest organic goodness possible.
4. Learn How To Forage
You might not think that you can forage in an urban environment without plucking your neighbor’s tomatoes and winding up in court. However, this assumption isn’t true — once you learn what plants are edible.
For example, chickweed tastes a lot like spinach and is rich in vitamins and minerals — just make sure you don’t pluck it from any areas treated with pesticides. Dandelion is well-known as a weed, but all parts are edible. You can even roast the roots like coffee. Garlic mustard adds a unique crunch to salads.
5. Think Seasonal Freshness
When you buy fruits and vegetables that aren’t in season, guess what? A farmer on the other side of the country or even the globe probably grew them, and the transportation it took to get it to your local grocery produced tons of carbon emissions.
Instead, learn how to serve seasonal produce. You’ll reap health benefits in the form of increased nutrient density. The planet gets the perk of less carbon and methane from exhaust pipes.
6. Dine Local
If you dine exclusively at nationwide chain restaurants, you’re missing a valuable opportunity to discover new eats while reducing your carbon footprint. Many franchises use the same suppliers to ensure food conformity, but this increases transportation costs and emissions.
Instead, do a trifecta of goodness by finding and supporting nearby restaurants that source their produce from local suppliers. Your food will taste fresher and be prepared by folks you consider your neighbors. Plus, you can brag about the delectable dishes you can’t find anywhere else on social media. Right now, smaller establishments need your patronage to recover from the pandemic.
There’s one more bonus to dining local if you fall into the flexitarian tribe. If you oppose factory farming but occasionally eat meat, you can find farm-to-table restaurants where the owners provide insight into how the animals were raised and slaughtered. You’re also more likely to find healthier, grass-fed alternatives if you eat beef.
Eat More Sustainably For Better Wellness With These Tips
Win-win scenarios are the best — and sustainable eating is a boon for both your health and the planet. Follow these six simple tips to improve your well-being and dine with a clear conscience!