Food sustainability works toward a better environmental, social and economic community for everyone. Think Energy is happy to offer this sustainable food blog full of tips and tricks for cooking sustainably and saving money. Whether it’s cooking green or reducing food waste, everyone can take steps toward having a sustainable kitchen and planet.
Expand Your Cooking Skills:
No matter where you stand with cooking abilities, there’s always room for improvement. When it comes to sustainable cooking, the more you know in the kitchen, the easier it is to create recipes and save money.
Shop Locally:
Visiting farmers markets allows you to obtain fresh, local food. More importantly, it gives you an opportunity to meet the people who produce the food you’re eating. Being with those who know the food best allows you to ask questions about the growing techniques or even different ways to prepare it.[1] Once you get into this routine, it will be easy to buy only what you need, saving you unnecessary costs.
Eat More Plants:
Eating more fruits and vegetables is not only healthier for our bodies, it’s also healthier for the planet. Adding more green foods to your diet reduces freshwater withdrawals as well as deforestation.[2]
Eat Less Meat:
With meat production being a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing your meat intake is another step toward sustainable eating. Raising and transporting livestock requires large amounts of food, water, land and energy that other food sources, such as plants, don’t require. Occasionally replacing meats with other sustainable food can make a significant difference.[3]
Consider New Seafood:
Although fish is a healthy option, some species are overfished and, at times, production is harmful to their marine environment. Researching your favorite types of fish to ensure their production is safe or trying out new types of fish you find to be sustainable are easy practices to try out.[4]
Eat Seasonally:
Purchasing foods that are in season allows for natural, sustainable eating. Seasonal eating may mean consuming root vegetables and hearty greens during the fall and winter months and then eating salads and fruits during the summer months. Most foods have times of the year that they are more abundant than others. Eating according to those times benefits the environment’s natural production[5] as well as your wallet.
Reduce Food Waste:
Although many people believe that food is natural and when thrown away it will decompose, this is typically not the case. Ninety-five percent of food waste enters landfills,[6] where it is piled up under pressure and creates methane.[7] Simple efforts such as planning your meals, only buying the groceries you need and figuring out ways to utilize leftover scraps can stop your household from spending extra money and creating unnecessary food waste.
These are just a few of the many ways you and your household can eat sustainably and save money. After some time, these practices will become habits and you’ll be well on your way to creating a better environment and happier wallet.