Make Your Table More Sustainable
The foods we eat play a large role not only in our health, but also on the planet’s health. Growing, producing, and processing food often requires huge amounts of resources, energy, and space. Do you know what “sustainability” even really means? Let’s take a look.
The term “sustainability” presumes that resources are finite, and therefore should be used conservatively and wisely. We have limited resources on Earth and need to think about extending their long-term usage for future generations. Sustainability is about making choices to ensure others will have the opportunity to thrive on this planet after us. When it comes to food, we can have bigger impacts than you think. Here are some ways you can make a difference.
Keep Food Close
On average, our food travels 1,019 miles for delivery and another 4,200 miles for supply-chain travel (1). All of that travel releases a lot of greenhouse gases through exhaust emissions! Two ways to circumvent this problem are to:
1) Buy local. Local food travels significantly fewer miles than food from far away.
2) Grow your own food. If you grow your own food, the only distance your food will have to travel is from your garden to your kitchen.
Change Your Food Practices
Meat and produce that is out of season both require more resources.
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Beef production takes up ⅓ of the world’s fresh water. Opt for plant-based proteins like tofu and nuts, which require less energy and resources to produce.
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Foods that are “in season” in your area of the globe require less resources to thrive. Foods out of season must be imported from around the world or rely on heavy chemical/resource use to end up at your grocery store. Seasonal foods are usually cheaper as well, since they are plentiful and easily grown during their season. Here’s what’s in season this time of the year according to the Texas Farmer’s Market.
January – March
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Beets
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Turnips
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Broccoli
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Cauliflower
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Cabbage
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Spinach
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Baby Arugula
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Greens
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Lettuces
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Strawberries
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Asparagus
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Napa Cabbage
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Bok Choy
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Sweet Potatoes
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Radishes
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Leeks
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Fennel
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Cilantro
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Parsley
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Tomatoes (Hot House)
Reduce Food Waste
A final change you can make to improve sustainability is to waste less. Instead of tossing your scraps, save them for leftovers or start a compost bin. You can use any kitchen container, and at the end of the week, dump the scraps into the backyard. Better yet, only buy what you know you will eat. Avoid buying large amounts of foods that go bad before you have the chance to use them.
Nobody’s perfect! But we should all do what we can to make a difference. There are many ways to reduce your food’s impact on the environment, namely by being a well-educated consumer. Know what you are buying, when you are buying it, and how to avoid wasting resources. We only have one Earth, so let’s be sure to leave it in good condition for those that come after us.
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