It’s important to figure out a way to eat environmentally friendly. Every small change you make has the potential to make a huge difference. Reducing plastic use by using reusable grocery bags to reducing water use, there are a lot of ways that you can help our environment and eat in a more environmentally friendly and healthy way. Here are some ways in which you can still eat the foods you love but in a greener way.
We put together some tips for you so you can still eat the foods you love but in a greener way. Not many people realize that their daily behaviors can impact a significant change in their environment. Choosing one form of packaging over another or picking seasonal fruit instead of exotic fruits which have traveled thousands of miles, we can effectively help to make the difference to our planet.
There are many ways to eat environmentally friendly and it isn’t difficult at all
Here are 15 tips to help you initiate the change and consume food in a more responsible way.
1. Instead of using plastic bags, at the supermarket, bring your own:
Plastic bags use fossil fuels in their production and often degrade into toxic particles that enter the ecosystem. Every year Americans use over 100 billion plastic bags. These billions of plastic bags end up in the landfill. It can take hundreds of years for plastic utensils, styrofoam containers, and glass bottles to decompose. Eat environmentally friendly by bringing reusable biodegradable grocery bags.
2. Avoid eating endangered: Many fish species, like the bluefin tuna, are on the brink of extinction, and should never be.
3. Choose seasonal fruit and veggies
Seasonal produce allows you not only to support local farming but also to eat well. Seasonal fruit and veggies are tastier and full of nutrients. This will save you on transportation costs and burn less fuel, reducing the carbon footprint.
4. If at all possible, eat foods raw.
Not all foods should be eaten raw, but most of the vegetables can be eaten raw which saves energy on gas from your stone and healthier for you since it preserves all the nutrition. And It is another way to eat environmentally friendly and environment healthy.
Instead of boiling or sautéing your veggies, try to eat them raw as often as possible.
5. Preserve seasonal treats
If you really love cherries or strawberries and would like to eat them all year, it’s not a problem. Learn how to preserve both fruit and vegetables so you can eat locally-grown produce all year long.
6. Purchasing dairy products that are hormone-free.
Make sure that the livestock was not raised with any type of hormones which are artificial and can cause negative impacts.
7. Buy organic
It is not only good for your body but it is good for the environment.
8. Eat less dairy
The production of one pound of cheese might produce more than 11 lbs. of carbon dioxide, which adds to climate change. Eating less dairy products, you’ll be effectively reducing your impact on the environment.
9. Reduce waste
Stop using plastic dishes, plastic utensils or paper napkins. Use real plates, utensils, choose cloth napkins, which can be reused.
10. Repurpose leftovers
Instead of throwing away your leftovers, try to transform them into new meals. You’ll be reducing waste and save on the energy required for cooking a new meal.
11. Eat only meats that do not contain antibiotics.
Many farm animals that are raised for meat are given antibiotics which makes the meat unhealthy. Antibiotics and chemicals are not good for the animals nor the environment either for humans.
12. Support restaurants that purchase their products from locally-owned markets.
These restaurants support local farmers and get the most sustainable sources of produce and other food. Make sure you ask where the food is sourced from.
13. Recycle your food.
You can turn a lot of your waste into resources. You can turn food scraps into compost for your garden. There are a lot of options that are available that you can use to go environment-friendly.
14. Try growing vegetables of your own.
By adding potted plants or a small plot of vegetables, you can have easy access to fresh food which ultimately saves you a trip to the grocery store which saves you gas as well.
Shop responsibly
When doing your grocery shopping, it’s best to choose stores which show interest in sustainable practices and genuinely care for the environment. Being environmentally friendly is proofed to be paid off. Check the store websites to learn more about your food providers and choose those who care about limiting waste, if run a store-wide recycling program or have doors in refrigerated sectors to save energy.
Photo credit: Flickr / Rennett Stowe
Photo credit: Chris McLennan
