How To Make Your Diet More Sustainable

Many people want to go green, because there are so many serious problems facing the environment. The food and drinks we consume can have a big impact on the environment, so making some changes to our eating and drinking patterns can make a real positive difference.

The first step is to avoid buying food and drinks with excessive packaging. A good example of this is processed cheese, where each slice is wrapped individually, or fruits packaged individually. Another example is ready made snacks that often come packaged in a lot of plastic. Also try to avoid food products that come with disposable plates and plastic utensils. Try to buy food and drinks that come in recyclable materials such as cardboard, aluminum and plastic and be sure to recycle the packaging. Try to avoid take out and fast food, since they tend to use a lot of disposable paper and plastic.

If you can afford it, try eating more organic food. Organic food uses no pesticides or chemical fertilizers. In that way, it reduces pollution, and the methods used also tend to conserve water and prevent soil erosion.

One of the best ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is by eating less meat. The average person in the West consumes far more meat than is recommended by dietitians, so chances are cutting back on meat is good for your health as well. Spending less on meat can save you money too.

Try to buy locally produced foods. If you buy foods that are locally produced when they’re in season, you reduce the amount of energy needed to get the foods to you. That helps to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as depletion of fossil fuels. It also tends to be more fresh and less damaged. Eating fresh food tastes better and is more healthy.

Avoid food with a lot of chemicals in it. The more processed food is, the greater the chance that harmful chemicals were produced in the process. If you can stick to more natural, minimally processed foods, it is generally better for the environment.

Lastly, avoid eating too much seafood that is high on the food chain, such as cod, salmon, swordfish, monkfish or tuna, since their stocks are being depleted at an alarming rate. Instead, eat more seafood that is lower on the food chain, such as anchovies, sardines, herring, mussels and oysters.

By changing your diet, you can have a huge impact on the environment, making it one of the best, and healthiest ways to go green.