By the year 2050, our planet will be home to another 2 billion people, according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF). That is a lot of people to feed! Our food choices today will affect Earth’s ability to provide for future populations. Sustainable farming and eating is the answer- what can you do about it?
How is our food related to sustainability?
Sustainability is a common term, but what exactly does it mean and how does it affect you? Simply put, it is the practice of choosing foods that support human and environmental health without negatively affecting future generations. What you eat matters for your health and the welfare of others. When you choose to purchase and eat certain foods, you are supporting specific farming practices. Some farming practices are more sustainable than others. So by choosing foods from farms that honor sustainability, you are doing your part to protect Earth’s resources.
Sustainable farming is critical for conserving the land for future generations. If land becomes unusable to farm, more land will need to be created, which can lead to the destruction of forests. Water, soil, and air pollution from chemicals and greenhouse gases can also harm the environment and contribute to climate change. Although sustainability seems like a far-reaching large-scale issue, you can play your part by being thoughtful of what you put on your plate.
5 ways to be more sustainable with your diet
Eat more plant-based meals! Meat production produces more greenhouse gases than plant production. Plant-based foods are easier on the environment. Check out our “Bite by Bite: Taking Steps Toward a More Plant-Forward Diet” blog post to get more ideas for plant-forward meals.
Shop local for in-season produce to support your community. You can find in-season produce at your local grocery store or farmer’s market. Buying local can ensure you are getting fresh, in-season produce that required less resources to ship long distances. Shopping local also allows you to develop relationships with local farmers.
Cut Waste! Check out another one of our blogs “7 Tips to Reduce Food Waste” for helpful tips to reduce food waste. It is surprising how many things you can do! Purchasing reusable grocery bags is another small step you can take to reduce waste.
Try to grow your own produce! Being able to see and experience the process of growing produce can help you understand the factors that go in to growing produce on a larger scale. Start small! Try to grow an herb you use frequently such as basil, or one produce plant such as tomatoes.
Start the conversation! Talk about sustainability with your local community, family, and friends to help make them aware. You could do this by inviting your family or friends to go shopping with you at a local grocery store or farmer’s market. Reusable grocery bags and water bottles can make also make great gifts and provide a moment to teach someone why they are beneficial.
There are many things you can do to practice sustainability starting with even just one of the above tips. The USDAand SARE are great resources to learn more about sustainable farming.
Get to know our author:
Stachel is currently a Dietetic intern with the University of Northern Colorado. Originally, she is from Ohio but had always wanted to move to Colorado. She is interested in nutritional counseling within the field of dietetics. Living in Fort Collins near CSU, she knew KRNC would be a great opportunity to learn more. She is also currently passionate about sustainability within the food world and enjoys educating others.”
A healthy, sustainable diet is one which has a low impact on the environment but is still good for our health. Diet recommendations should also take into consideration other factors such as health, cost, and accessibility.
The EAT-Lancet Commission notes that vegetarian and plant-based, or vegan, diets are more sustainable than those that contain meat and other animal products.
Sustainable eating involves consuming food that has a low environmental impact. It's largely plant-based and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and chronic diseases in humans. Sustainable food production won't happen overnight, and much of the impact comes from systems, not people.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Diversify and shift the balance of protein intake towards more plant-based sources of protein. Limit foods high in fat, salt, or sugar. Choose sustainable sources of fish and seafood.
Plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains, are generally more sustainable than animal-based foods. This is because plant-based foods require fewer resources to produce and have a lower carbon footprint.
In any scenario, the meat we do eat should be sustainable – so less intensively farmed livestock, only livestock fed on grass, ideally on naturally occurring rangelands. There are options for farmed fish, but the most important thing is to avoid wild fish which are being overfished.
A sustainable food system is a food system that delivers food security and nutrition for all. The system encompasses everything from the processing, packaging and the transporting of food to consumers.
It is rich in wholegrains, legumes, nuts and plenty of varied fruits and vegetables. Healthy, sustainable diets can include moderate amounts of animal-derived foods (such as eggs, dairy, and fish) and smaller amounts of meat, especially red meat.
In addition to food security (being able to feed the current population without compromising the ability to feed future generations), other factors include nutrition and health, social justice, natural resources, and animal welfare.
The only way intermittent fasting can be sustainable, just like with any other weight loss strategy, is if you can make it part of a lifestyle that makes you happy. If by conducting intermittent fasting, you are feeling hungry in the morning and lethargic until you eat lunch, it's not for you.
Use of renewable energy: Food manufacturers can reduce their carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, to power their operations. Use of sustainable packaging: Food manufacturers can reduce waste by using sustainable packaging, such as biodegradable or compostable materials.
Eating more plant-based protein can dramatically cut your greenhouse gas emissions. In one study, people with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions had the highest intake of plant-based proteins, including legumes, nuts, and seeds — and the lowest intake of animal proteins ( 10 ).
Introduction: My name is Lidia Grady, I am a thankful, fine, glamorous, lucky, lively, pleasant, shiny person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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