There is always a choice of both healthy foods for us and for the environment we all live in. Such healthy decisions are referred to as sustainable eating. People make plans for what to eat, and they need to know whether the food is sustainable or not. The food we eat doesn’t just impact our body systems. It also affects our environment and the water systems.
A sustainable eating plan provides you with all the nutrients needed to be healthy. In addition to that, it also ensures that our diet is not a threat to the ecosystems. When we choose food, we have to think of our land and water systems. Is the food sustainable? This is an important question to always ask when it comes to the food we eat. A sustainable diet does not harm the environment, and it is not a threat to the ecosystem.
We have to care for the environment by ensuring that what we eat will not affect the available resources for the future generation. Sustainable eating habits also help to avoid wastage of food and other natural resources. Food production is said to contribute majorly to the activities of climate change. However, if we are ready to go green in our eating habits, we can help save our ecosystem.
In food production, the role of sustainability is the burden of the producers, and the consumers also have a role to play. As a consumer, you need to be more conscious about your eating choices. It is also helpful to be more alert to how you dispose of waste. As a consumer, if you are confused about how you can eat sustainably, ensure you read this post till the end for more detailed information.
Here are the tips to help you make healthy food choices.
Eat-plant based foods
Plant-based food is foods made majorly from plants. These include vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, grains, and beans. Most people believe that only vegetarians consume plant-based food in high quantities. That is absolutely not true. Some fats are healthy; for example, fats from nuts and olive oil are more nourishing instead of stuffing yourself up with junk food. Those forms of fat are unhealthy and cause obesity which will expose you to a high risk of health challenges. No matter how busy your schedule is, once a week, fill your plate with vegetables for lunch.
Avoid food waste
Avoid food wasteAs the head of the family, you need to educate your loved ones about sustainable eating habits. It becomes easier to achieve when you initiate the conversation, and they understand your view. Try as much as possible to reduce wastage in homes by reducing the quantity of food made or purchased. Weekly, you can review your family’s food requirements and eating needs. This will help you buy only what is needed, and you will have less to throw away into the sea or land.
Eat only certified meals
Before buying meals, it will be best to always check for its certification. There is some relevant information that you cannot just let go of. Be aware of how healthy the food going into your stomach is. The knowledge of that relevant information will help you determine the various processes the food has gone through. Don’t be too hungry to grab and eat anything from the market.
Try to grow what you eat
When you grow your food, it helps you be sure of the source of what you are eating. You don’t have to acquire a large expanse of land before you grow what you eat. A small area is enough to own a little garden. You can grow tomatoes or vegetables. This will also help you to cut down bills for monthly grocery shopping. Plants can absorb carbon dioxide from our environments, and the air we breathe will be healthier for our lungs.
Have a seasonal eating plan
Another way to eat sustainably is by eating according to season. There won’t be a need for you to transport food over a long distance. Vehicles add to harming the environment because they release emissions into the surrounding. However, when you shop locally, you can reduce these negative transportation impacts on the environment.
Reduce the consumption of processed meals
This is one significant contribution to health challenges. Processed foods are high in calories. It is essential to reduce its total consumption. Processed food is in high demand for more manufacturing materials. In addition, they also require lots of shipping processes. Despite its high cost of production, packaging and transportation, they contain added sugar. Increased consumption leads to an increased risk of diseases like stroke, diabetes and obesity.
Reduce the order for packaged foods
Packaged food contributes to the increased waste we have in our environment. Most significantly, bottled water. What most people fail to understand is that plastic bottles are a significant threat to our seas and land. Because it contains some levels of toxins that are harmful. When you throw plastic into the environment, they remain just as they are. They don’t decompose. Even if you don’t like your tap water because of impurities, plastic bottled water should not be the next option. You can consider getting a water ioniser machine to help you with water filtration.
In conclusion,
Sustainable eating is not just about the choice of food. There are other factors that you need to consider. These include; the food production process, packaging and distribution. You don’t have to order food from a long distance. You can practice sustainability by shopping locally for what you need. Finally, instead of throwing food away, you can consider donating it to those who need it. This will help you avoid food wastage as much as possible; the future generation will appreciate your effort.
If this content was beneficial, like and share. You can also proceed to the section below and leave one or two comments about what you think of going green in your diet. You can check out also our previous posts such as “9 tricks to help you recover from burnout and stay energised”
Stay hydrated! We drink ionised water.
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