Five simple ways to eat more sustainably

There’s no getting away from the fact that climate change poses a threat to our planet. And while we know we need to make changes, sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming to know how to make a difference.

A good place to start is by assessing and tweaking our daily routines to become more sustainable. Agriculture and food production, for example, is an industry with considerable global impact so it’s worth changing the way we consume and think about food. Here are some of our top tips for eating more sustainably:

Eat your greens!

A simple – and often inexpensive – way to eat more sustainably is to increase your fruit and vegetable intake. Eating more fruit and veg will keep you fuller for longer, provide you with essential nutrients and is often cheaper than other food groups. Throughout 2020, many farms and small businesses developed fruit and veg boxes which can be delivered to your door. Typically, these include seasonal and locally grown produce that may have been otherwise disposed of. Supermarkets will often refuse produce if it doesn’t fit their standards (anything from too big to the wrong colour!) so these boxes ensure the fruit and veg doesn’t end up as waste. Which leads us to…

Compost, glorious compost

If you do have any food waste, you may wish to compost it rather than send it straight to landfill. Home composting has a whole host of benefits; it enriches soil with nutrients, increases the soil’s ability to retain moisture and can help sequester carbon. There are many ways to get started, so it’s worth doing some research into the right solution for you. Why not start with this guide from the BBC? You don’t need a large outdoor space to compost; it can work for any sized garden, allotment or flat.

 Meat your match

It’s well documented that meat and dairy-free days help when it comes to eating sustainably. But it’s also worth considering your approach to the meat and dairy products you do eat. If you’re keen to make a change, learning the provenance of your meat products is a good place to start. By understanding the processes food goes through before it reaches your plate, you can make informed decisions and choose more sustainable options – which could mean opting for organic, locally produced meat bought from butchers or farm stores. Eating ‘less and better meat’ is a good way to view it.

 Grow your own

For the gardeners among us, or those looking for a new hobby, growing your own fruit and veg is a hugely rewarding experience which also helps with food sustainability. We’ve previously compiled our top tips for growing your own produce and recommend starting with a herb planter or a root vegetable like carrots or potatoes.

 Forgo the packaging

We’ve written before about ways to reduce plastic consumption. A quick win when it comes to eating sustainably is to avoid excess packaging where possible. Rather than buying fruit and veg in swathes of plastic, remember to bring your own tote bag or container when buying food. The same with food cupboard staples – look for cardboard or paper packaging, or even refillable options. It’s also good to avoid excess packaging when storing food; cling film and tin foil, for example, are best avoided as they’re single-use items which are hard to dispose of. Try using beeswax wraps instead – find out how to make them yourself here!

We hope you’ve found these tips helpful – there’s no overnight fix when it comes to consuming food more sustainably, but these are some simple ways to make a positive difference. We’d love to know if you have any other tips to suggest. You can get in contact with us on Facebook and Instagram.

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