Reduce your environmental impact through food

In the wake of the climate demonstration on September 27 in Montreal, it is important to question our consumption habits. Many scary situations are happening in the world right now, like the oceans of plastic or the burning Amazon, and it's high time to act. We can no longer continue to live at this frenetic pace without worrying about what surrounds us. Moreover, Les Cowboys Fringants already talked about it in 2004 with the song Plus rien :

“It was years later that they saw the nonsense
In a panic declared a state of emergency
When all the oceans swallowed up the islands
And that the floods have hit the big cities”

There are several things we can do to reduce our environmental impact and preserve our beautiful planet. A third of the food that is produced in the world is either wasted or thrown away. This equates to nearly 1.3 billion tonnes of wasted food according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. That's huge considering all the necessary resources it takes to produce them when they'll end up straight in the trash. Here are five ways to reduce your environmental impact through food.

1. Avoid food waste

We often tend to buy more food than we actually need when we go grocery shopping. To avoid this abuse, you can prepare a list of meals you want to cook for the week and buy only the necessary products. You can also freeze leftovers so you don't have to throw them away. In addition, it allows you to have meals already ready when you are in a hurry. It's a win-win!

2. Eat local

Eating local foods helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to the transport of these products to your plate. A good way to eat locally is to buy seasonal fruits and vegetables. It is also possible to buy dishes that are prepared locally, as Les Aliments Savvy Pantry offers with their soup and bowl mixes that are 100% natural and made from plants.

3. Compost

Composting allows you to reduce your food waste, but also to give it a second life. To compost, all you have to do is get a small bin that you keep in the refrigerator (it prevents odors and small fruit flies) and empty it into the bin provided by your municipality. You can check here if your municipality offers compost collection . It is also possible to make your own compost which you will obtain after a year and which you can put in your flowerbeds or your garden.

4. Cook more

In addition to being a healthier option, cooking reduces waste related to packaging and the production of processed foods. Many companies offer products to enhance your dishes. This is the case with Super Super, which offers products that make it easier and faster to prepare a meal, and Les seasonnements Épis d'or, which offers seasonings for marinating a multitude of foods, such as meat, seafood and rice.

5. Reduce meat consumption

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), meat consumption contributes 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions . Reducing the number of meals with meat is a good way to reduce your ecological footprint. Several companies now offer alternatives to meat, including Root Foods , which produces ready-to-cook foods made from organic legumes and grains such as sweet potato pancake and garam masala .

Whatever way you choose to have a more environmentally conscious diet, it is important to remember that our resources are not inexhaustible and it is important to take care of them. With that, bon appetit!

Reviewed by Sandrine

cover photo: Unsplash