Today, healthy eating habits are more than just good for individual well being; it’s also contributing to the community at large. If you are looking to eat a more sustainable diet, here are five tips to steer you in the right direction.
Buy Locally
Start looking to buy locally grown foods. Farmer’s markets are usually great to find sustainable groceries. If you live in an area that does not have a close enough farmer’s market kiosk or location, find a grocery store near you who imports produce from nearby farms in your city. Some markets collaborate with grocery stores to sell their produce for easy access to fresh local goods.
Go Plant-Based
Vegan is now a rapidly growing diet of choice for people choosing to eat clean. But if you are not ready to make this transition entirely, no worries. Just start adding more fruits and vegetable to your meals. Eatingbetter.org suggests eating more fresh produce and decreasing your animal consumption. This will contribute to fewer health risks and reduce greenhouse gases pollution. Plus, plant-based foods are loaded with antioxidants, which is one of the main benefits of a plant-based diet. Rather than making meat the main course, for example, perhaps serve it as a side dish occasionally.
Recognizing Sustainable Groceries
In addition to farmer’s markets, as stated above, there are other ways to locate sustainable groceries. Most notably, food co-ops are where a group of people in a community or organization come together as owners of a store, for the benefit of all members involved. They make a more conscious effort to favor sustainable, local and organic products. Sustainabletable.org reports that if you shop at larger chain markets, you can still find sustainable or organic products, but you still might have to ask.
Grow Your Own
You don’t necessarily need to have a large backyard designated for gardening. There are select herbs, fruits and vegetables you can begin seeding inside your home and grow outside on a small patch of earth, or on your balcony, come the right season. Growing your own produce is a gratifying and sustainable, cost-effective way to eat. If you really don’t have outdoor space, join a community garden. Growing your own food can also open you up to inspiration in the kitchen, especially when you have a restrictive diet. For example, if your a fan of pizza and a vegetarian, but feel as if you can’t really enjoy one, you can always replace typical toppings with the contents of your gardens. Mushrooms can be a great protein replacement in pizzas, or you can spice things up with jalapenos and other peppers.
Check the Label
Look for products carrying the Fair-Trade Certified label. This allows producers from poorer countries to get fair deals for their products. Fairtradecertified.org provides an excellent resource for contributing companies who support this global movement.
These are all easy ways to practice a more sustainable lifestyle. Clean eating and living will give you good health while making your planet better. Cheers!
References:
Mind Body Green | 9 Tips For Anyone Who Wants To Go Plant-Based
Kiwi Power Company | What it Means to Live a Sustainable Lifestyle, and How to Do It
Forbes | Green Efforts, Golden Opportunities: Two Grocers Explore Different Paths