Stopping climate change is everyone’s responsibility. We need to start making more sustainable choices to keep the planet inhabitable for future generations. One way to do so is through your diet. Here are five nutrition tips for cutting your food carbon footprint.
1. Frequent Your Farmers Market
Is your only regret in tossing those now-decaying strawberries in the trash that you didn’t get to taste their sweetness? Perhaps you spare a moment’s thought for hungry people.
Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that food loss and waste contribute to 170 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent GHG emissions each year? That’s the same amount produced by 42 coal factories.
Does that mean you should stop buying fresh produce out of fear of waste? No — it merely means getting savvier. For example, purchasing goods from your local farmers market decreases your carbon footprint as many vendors ship products from only a few miles away, reducing emissions.
Furthermore, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program partners with local vendors, providing fresh vegetables and fruit to needy families. Your support does good in more ways than one.
2. Plant a Garden
Transportation doesn’t get any more local than a stroll to your garden. Planting one provides you with organic produce at home, with no emissions-producing trip to the store necessary.
Go a step further in your sustainability efforts by selecting plant species that thrive in your native region. Doing so reduces your water use, another vital resource. It also minimizes the number of pesticides and fertilizers you need to utilize, preventing runoff.
3. Compost
Skip the chemical fertilizers and enrich your soil the way nature intended, with rich organic matter made from your current food scraps. You reduce waste, put leftovers to good use and keep chemicals out of your produce.
It doesn’t take much to make a compost bin — apartment dwellers can even make one for their patio plant collection with a small container. You can construct larger ones from scrap materials like pallets.
Once you have your bin, learn what you should and shouldn’t include. Plant-based scraps like apple cores and banana peels are a go. However, keep animal feces and meat scraps out to prevent harmful bacteria from infiltrating your soil.
4. Embrace Meatless Monday
If you seek the ultimate way to decrease your footprint, go vegan. Meat production accounts for nearly 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions, clear-cutting pristine forests for pasture and releasing methane — heavier and more toxic than carbon.
However, most mere mortals aren’t willing to give up the occasional burger. The trick is moderating your intake. Try to eat meat no more than once or twice a week. If that’s too much for your family’s taste, embrace days like Meatless Monday and Fish Friday. If everyone took such measures, society could considerably slash emissions.
5. Get Store-Trip Savvy
You create emissions every time you run to the grocery store. It might seem like no big deal to run back to retrieve that forgotten Greek yogurt, but it isn’t kind to the planet.
Get savvy about your trips to minimize your time on the road. Walk or bike instead of driving when you only need a few items. Otherwise, chart a course, planning to grocery shop on your way home from work instead of making a second trip. Alternatively, designate one day of the week for going to market and hit every location on your list in one swoop.
Cut Your Food Carbon Footprint
Human beings must work together to ensure a habitable planet for future generations. Experts warn there may not be much time left to protect the Earth for human life.
One way to do your part is to green your diet. Follow the five nutrition tips above to cut your food carbon footprint.
Photography by Anna Voss
