Global warming has long been a hot issue (ha, see what I did there), and a lot of factors take contribution in the adverse effects of it, such as transportation and industrial emissions, electrical production and agriculture. Agriculture, which includes the overall process of production, packaging and transportation of food all result in greenhouse gas emissions, the main gases that trap the heat and makes our earth warmer.
Fortunately, you don’t need to be a superhero to fight this global issue. It all comes down to our individual actions – through our food choices. Food choices are the biggest contributor to our personal carbon footprint, which is basically the total amount of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere in processing our food from the farm to our dinner table. Hence, sustainability is not just a collective effort, each of us needs to start eating responsibly and live towards a greener life.
A plus point – not only does eating green allow you to help reduce your carbon footprint, it also brings heaps of health benefits to our body.
So, let’s get into our green mission now!
Treat meat like a luxury item
Most of the greenhouse gases produced from food comes from the production of livestock animals, particularly ruminants; cattle, sheep, goat. The grass fed to these animals are processed in their multi-chambered stomach, which produces methane (part of the greenhouse gases) as a by-product of their digestion system. Imagine every red meat you chew to have an impact upon the methane emission elsewhere – that’s not really appetising, is it? But anyway, you don’t have to completely stop eating meat, as it contains vitamin B12, zinc and iron that our body needs, but at least try to eat it only once in a while, have a non-meat day each week or just keep its consumption in moderation. That’ll definitely help a lot.
Revolve around plant-based diet
Unlike livestock production, plant-based foods are more environmentally friendly. Greenhouse gas emissions for vegetarians were 29% lower compared to meat eaters. So, if you eat more veggies and fruits instead of meat, you’re already contributing effort into reducing your carbon footprint. Moreover, it’s also easier to process by the body, generally healthier and makes your body feels lighter. If you’re afraid of missing out on the nutrients offered by red meat, here you can substitute B12 by consuming milk, yoghurt and eggs, zinc and iron by consuming nuts, tofu, miso, legumes, wheatgerm and wholegrain foods.
Go for the local and seasonal foods
It’s all about food miles – how long does it take for your food to travel from the farm to your local supermarket. Try to avoid air freighted food as much as possible to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by buying local foods. I know imports are usually “fancier” and sometimes offer more variety, but try to work along and develop your love for the local foods as it will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Foods that are out of season locally also needs to be transported from another climate, which accounts for many food miles.
Minimise consumption of highly processed foods
Highly processed foods are equivalent to a high carbon footprint. The long chain of processing already takes up a lot of energy, water and valuable resources. Moreover, processed foods need to be packaged, transported and stored. Processing plants also generate waste, which then requires further processing. Simply said, the more processed it is, the worse it is. Examples of highly processed foods are breakfast cereals, processed meat (sausage, bacon), instant noodles, savoury snacks (chips, biscuits), convenience foods (microwave-ready meals, frozen dinners), etc.
Foods made with preservatives also require far more energy to produce than those without, as the preservatives are made through its own processing. Therefore, you should go for the natural foods with lower shelf life. It is healthier for you and for the planet.
Choose organic and sustainably harvested foods
Organically grown foods are more environmentally sustainable and responsible than conventionally grown ones. There are less harmful chemicals such as pesticides put into the environment and into our bodies too. And for that, organic foods usually taste better as they are more nutrient-dense. Not only do artificial pesticides and fertilisers emit greenhouse gases, they also contaminate the water and soil. Thus, it is important to choose your food from responsible sources that manage their manure waste properly.
In terms of sustainable harvesting, our food choices should go in line with the ongoing conservation of plant and animal species for the next future generation. You may not know the true conditions of farming and how the animals were treated before they are beautifully displayed in the grocery store, but an effort you could do is to check the labels on the packaging e.g. choose free-range eggs instead of caged eggs, though it might cost you a little penny. But hey, a small effort could mount to a great difference right?
Care for the farmers
Appreciating food doesn’t only come as far as complimenting the taste, but also caring about where it came from and how it was made and delivered to you. Here, we’re talking about ethically produced products, with the most common one to be fair trade certified coffee. Fair trade ensures that farmers are being paid fairly, treated well, and the crop they grow does not contribute to soil erosion, water contamination and forest destruction. I’m taking the example of coffee because it is one of the things nearly everyone can’t live without – I mean, who doesn’t love coffee?! Yet over millions of small-scaled coffee farmers in developing countries who depend on it for their livelihoods are struggling to survive. This is mainly due to the climate change and the volatility of its price. So, we should start drinking coffee more responsibly by purchasing the ones that are fairly traded. Love your coffee, love its sources!
Who says growing foods is only limited to farmers? You can also do it at home yourself. Before you think about dirty soils on your hands, think about the positive impacts it could bring to the environment. Growing your own food is probably the most effective way to reduce your carbon footprint. Not just that, you’re also flourishing your surroundings (home backyards) with plants, which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and replace it with clean oxygen. Another win-win solution for you and the planet!
In choosing what plants to grow, you could start by considering the ones that give multiple crops and are high yielding, or the ones you personally like to eat and find quite expensive at the groceries. Some of the great ones to start with could be herbs, lettuce, cherry tomatoes and climbing beans.
Who would’ve thought that something as simple as food could be crucial to our planet’s survival onto the next couple of years? By putting our own food choices into stake, we could sow a good seed for it to be multiplied and reaped in the future. Start now, green foodies!