This week, I am bringing up the top of sustainable eating, this is a topic a thoroughly enjoy and have had several social media posts about it in the past (most recently the Greek Meatballs).  And the topic is very quiet simple, make simple changes to your everyday diet, which then allows you to eat healthier and still help the environment.

When it comes to food, the idea of sustainable dieting is finding ways to conserve our natural resources with minimal effect on the environment.  It’s really about local shopping (farm to table), adding more plant-based foods to your diet, and eliminating food waste.  BUT it doesn’t mean you need to live a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle (nothing wrong with that).  It’s about making concessions, for instance for every burger you eat, a simple solution is instead of having beef every time, have a plant based option every other time.  And I have been told there is really no difference in taste (I don’t eat a lot of beef, but I will eat the plant based options, so I take everyone’s words for it).  Simple solutions.

Then there is buying ugly produce, the USDA has regulations out there that produce bought in the stores need to have certain standards, this leaves a lot of food to waste as most of it doesn’t get into the stores being deemed “too ugly,” shop at like Misfit Markets or Imperfect Foods, get the “ugly” produce, it tastes just as good if it was in the store, and you are supporting your local farmers and help eliminating waste. As you all know I buy Imperfect Foods and we have also been known to get food from the local farm.

Some other options to sustainable eating is shop locally, go to the butcher, go to the local farm, not only will it cut down on greenhouse gases, it will cut down on gas in your car.  Same with eating at local restaurants that support farm to table, for instance, there is a local brewery not far from where we live, they support local businesses, and for instance when we ask for hot sauce, it is from a local company.  And their bread for their sandwiches, looks like they went and bought from the bakery across the street from them.  Support the local who supports local businesses.

Plus there is so much more we can do.

 Eatingright.org