7 Tips for Eco-Friendly Meal Planning
By Reese Jones, Guest Contributor
The impact of food on the environment is bigger than most people realize. UN News reports that at least a third of the global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the production, processing, and packaging of the food that eventually ends up on our plates. Production is the leading contributor, as many resources, such as fertilizers and feeds, go into agriculture and livestock.
One way you can lower your carbon footprint is to start meal planning. This food hack gives you a better sense of what you eat and spend on food, and lets you eliminate habits that are not particularly sustainable. Aside from learning to prepare your meals for the next few days, there’s still more you can do to make your meal prepping eco-friendly. Here’s how:
1. Bring a list
Before going to the grocery store, come prepared with your shopping list. This lets you buy ingredients in bulk and reduce the amount of packaging you’re going to waste in the process. For instance, you can get the same kind of rice or pasta instead of buying different varieties that will be packaged separately. You can also include specific details on your list, such how much to buy for a certain produce. This is especially crucial for perishable items, as overbuying can lead to food waste and spoilage. With a grocery list, you can eliminate impulse buys and stick to the correct amount of supplies you actually need.
2. Shop local
Transporting food uses up fossil fuels, and it’s more than likely that some of them were treated with chemicals to keep them from spoiling. As such, our earlier post suggests visiting the local farmer’s market so you’re sure to get fresh food that didn’t need to travel across the country. Stick to seasonal ingredients too, because they’re easier to source locally and taste fresher, too.
3. Stop using plastic containers
Even if plastic containers are labeled as reusable or BPA-free, a study from the University of Missouri suggests that they’re still harmful to our health. For instance, a pregnant woman can pass on the harmful chemicals to her baby, affecting brain development. As for plastic containers’ effects on the environment, plastics aren’t biodegradable, and only a small percentage of plastics are recycled.
4. Make the most of your leftovers
The easiest way to avoid wasting food is to eventually finish it. If you can’t do it at the time, store them in airtight glass containers to repurpose for another meal. Glass containers are also very practical since you can see inside them, so you don’t forget which leftovers you still have. Consider setting up a “Use Me First” shelf or label your containers with expiry dates to avoid unnecessary spoilage. If you won’t be consuming something within the next four days, consider putting them in the freezer.
5. Grow your own edibles
It may take some time to learn how to grow your own food, but once you get the hang of it, you can save some money and lessen your carbon footprint. Using your own time and effort to cultivate your own food items also means you’re less likely to waste them. You can start with easy-to-grow veggies like lettuce and herbs. Now, if you don’t have space for a garden, there are many veggies that you can grow in pots, such as tomatoes, lentils, or beans. You can also grow smaller items, like herbs and greens, and perch them on your balcony or windowsill.
6. Eat nutritious foods
A plant-rich diet can provide a lot of nutrients to prevent sickness, as well as decrease your carbon footprint. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals, and you can even get sufficient protein from items such as lentils, chickpeas, nuts, beans, and tofu. For meat eaters, eco-friendly tips include avoiding factory farmed meat, which uses more water and resources and generates both higher levels of pollution and greenhouse gases relative to plant-based agriculture. You can also reduce the overall quantity of meat consumed and stick to products raised with organic, soil-building, humane, and/or regenerative methods. In short: make sure you get the right amount of nutrients, including protein, to ensure that you stay strong and healthy, and think of nutrition and healthy food habits as an important disease prevention tool for your whole life.
7. Use your food scraps
Don’t make composting your first option. Before that, try some of Healthline’s suggestions on reusing your food scraps. For instance, you can make vegetable stock from vegetable trimmings and broth from roasted bones, or repurpose stale bread into croutons.
Eco-friendly meal planning can take some more time getting used to than normal meal planning. However, the process is much more rewarding as you get to make the most of your resources.
Learn more great healthy eating and cooking tips on Acterra’s Healthy Plate, Healthy Planet site.
Authored by Reese Jones, guest contributor
Exclusively written for acterra.org