The decisions we make about food can have a profound effect on the environment. Here are four simple ways you can make your diet more climate-friendly.
Eat more meat-free meals – avoiding meat and dairy products is one of the biggest ways to reduce your environmental impact on the planet.
Buy organic and local whenever possible – Organic food is better for the climate. It’s grown without genetically modified organisms. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy come from animals that aren’t fed antibiotics or growth hormones. And because they’re grown in healthy soils, organic foods are typically more nutritious, containing more vitamins and minerals.
Don’t waste food – Close to half of all food produced worldwide is wasted after production, discarded in processing, transport, supermarkets and kitchens. When people throw food out, all the resources to grow, ship, package and produce it are wasted, too, including massive amounts of water.
Grow your own – Growing fruit, vegetables and herbs at home makes their trip to your table shorter. You can also grow your food without chemicals. Turn your yard or even the smallest of spaces such as a balcony or patio space into a food garden!