With Earth Day just around the corner we wanted to talk sustainable eating and how what you eat can really help the planet. We’ve got some great small changes you can make that’ll have a big impact on the environment.
Buy Greenhouse Grown or Seasonal
Green house grown foods use less chemicals and have a lower carbon footprint because they may only travel 50 kilometres to get to your local grocery store. They’re much better for the environment than buying foods from California or New Zealand. They are also more affordable, meaning you get more bang for your buck.
If the food you’re looking for is in season, you can also just buy local. Check to see that the produce was grown in your province before buying it.
Go Organic
What does organic even mean? Organic agriculture is a production method which promotes and enhances biodiversity, protects long-term soil health and reduces the impact of agriculture on climate change by encouraging carbon sequestration in the soil. It also means less pesticides and herbicides going into the environment. When shopping for organic food, it is important to keep in mind that terms like “naturally raised” or raised without” are not regulated terms. Seeking out the word “organic” is important.
Grow it Yourself!
One of the trends we’ve seen this past year is more people growing their own food, whether it’s fruits, veggies or herbs. Let’s focus on that last one. It’s super easy to grow herbs all year round, and many herbs from the grocery store are packaged in plastic boxes. that’s a no-go for preserving the planet. Growing your own herbs is far more affordable and nutritious. You can just chop it off your plant when you want to eat it! If you want to get more serious about farming your own food, some veggies that are hardy and relatively easy to grow in your backyard. Tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and green beans are all good bets.
Buy Foods Without the Packaging
Sometimes, the prepackaging of food is just unnecessary. Look for foods that you can buy loose, like bundles of kale instead of package kale. Food packaging is oftentimes wasteful, and even recyclable packaging often ends up in a landfill. Plus, you save some cash – pre-packaged foods are 205 more expensive!
Use Plastic-Free Produce Bags
Instead, opt for washable mesh bags, which can be reused over and over. Biodegradable bags are also a good option. Regular produce bags contain microplastics, which can impact our wildlife, aquatic life and human health. Microplastics have been found in the north pole, the south pole, on the sea floor, in our drinking water, in our air and in our food. Basically everywhere scientists have looked for microplastics on the planet, they have found them, and this is a great way to stop the proliferation of these plastics.
