Did you know that 14.5% of global climate change is due to gases produced by dairy and meat products? Does this mean that you should stop consuming dairy or meat? Well, not completely. Still, if you can cut back on meat or dairy or change your food habits, you can benefit the environment.
Everything from growing crops to transporting, processing, and selling them can increase greenhouse gases leading to environmental issues. Therefore, it is high time that we become conscious and start switching to better food habits to make the planet safer for all.
8 Simple Ways To Start A Food Revolution For The Environment
1. Change your coffee drinking habit
It is a popular drink for several people when it comes to coffee. Coffee consumption all over the world is huge, and it keeps increasing. Therefore, making your coffee consumption habit a bit safer for the environment and sustainable is vital.
If you drink coffee pods, switch to compostable coffee pods instead of plastic pods. The compostable pods are easy to recycle, and most brands offer pickup of empty pods for recycling purposes. Also, they are better for your body as it doesn’t have plastic, which is known for introducing allergens in your body.
Buy coffee in bulk. When you purchase a massive packet of whole beans or instant coffee or subscribe to coffee pods in bulk. Why? Because it makes this a sustainable purchase. How? Well, it means less packaging, which requires too many chemicals. If everyone starts doing this, there would be no need for small packages, decreasing the use of harmful chemicals.
Buy coffee from a brand that can offer assurance that the product is organically grown without the involvement of any pesticides.
2. Buy food products from the local market
We all are obsessed with buying luxury items that are challenging to find in our local market. It increases demand, which increases the amount of processing and transportation of exporting goods from the international market. That is another cause of environmental degradation. Additionally, the quality of the products is also not of superior quality.
Thus, you must start buying products from your local market. Not only is it fresh, but it also ensures eco-friendly practices.
3. Try to avoid dairy products
Dairy products, as we mentioned, above are one of the causes of producing harmful gases. The consumption of dairy products, including cheese, is also high in calories. Therefore, switching to vegan options is something you should think about. Vegan milk and cheese are high in nutrients, and their taste is pleasant as well.
4. Cut back on meat products
Meat products like dairy require huge space for farming and higher quantities of water & feed. Globally, it is leading to an increase in man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, cutting back on meat products is necessary for the betterment of the environment. To envision everyone turning vegan or vegetarian is impossible. However, cutting back and using plant-based alternatives is unquestionably a choice you can explore.
5. Try to cut back on waste
Food waste is a serious issue. We all are responsible for serving a massive amount of food on our plates and leaving 1/3rd or more portions untouched. Food wastage is the cause of greenhouse gases, depletion of resources, especially when several people sleep without eating even a loaf of bread.
Cutting back on food wastage is possible:
- Ensure that you only fill your plate with a small portion of all dishes.
- If you are unable to finish a dish, freeze it. Eat it while it is fresh.
- When grocery shopping, buy loose products so that you can measure when cooking.
6. Create a garden in your house
Growing fresh food and fruits in your home is not an impossible task. With the right guidance, you can start growing food at home, even coffee beans. It is healthy, free from carbon footprint, and cost-effective as well.
7. Decrease your consumption of refined grains
Consuming refined grains increase pollution as the processing power for the same is massive. It requires manpower and factories, which increases fumes impacting wildlife, land, human life, the ocean, and more. When you switch to whole wheat grains, it reduces all this. Moreover, it keeps blood sugar levels in check and energizes you.
8. Use leftover food as compost
Even while being conscious, we end up with food waste. Instead of throwing it away, use the extra food to make compost for your garden. You do not need to grow food for this; flowers and herbs require fuel too.
Be sustainable with your food with these tips and ensure a safer environment for all.
