Given the opportunity, many of us would choose to eat a diet that’s nutritious, sustainable, eco-friendly, and delicious. While it’s easy for us to know what tastes good, figuring out what’s nutritious, sustainable, and environmentally friendly takes a bit more work.
Luckily, we have access to a wide range of sustainable foods and ingredients we can easily add to our diets. And the even better news is that this food doesn’t have to break the bank.
With that in mind, here are some helpful tips on how to eat a sustainable diet and protect your wallet at the same time.
One of the best ways to eat more sustainably is to decrease your meat consumption. The rampant increase in worldwide meat consumption over the past few decades continues to impact our planet.
Deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and increased water consumption are all tied to the growing demand for more and more meat. Plus, meat is increasingly more expensive.
One potential solution for a sustainable, and cost-effective diet is to reduce how much meat you eat. Try adding in more veggies or plant-based alternatives.
When it comes to eating your veggies, our advice is to eat more and eat a greater variety. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, cycling through the same small handful of vegetables.
There are many ways to incorporate more vegetables into your diet. You can go to farmer’s markets or try a Community Supported Agriculture program. CSA programs can be an adventure and introduce you to new dishes you never would have tried without that extra little push.
You can also choose to shop at different grocery stores, including those serving unique global cuisine to find options that fall outside of your normal patterns. You can add vegetable-rich soups to your menu like our Organic Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Bisque or Organic Cashew Carrot Ginger Bisque.
Even if you are not vegan or vegetarian, the rising popularity of these options has led to an explosion of tasty recipes you can use to supplement your normal diet.
Meat isn’t the only food product with a concerning environmental impact. Reducing dairy consumption is another popular way to make your diet more sustainable.
Choosing dairy-free products cuts out the need for cows and makes for a more sustainable diet.
At Pacific Foods, we make a range of plant-based beverages that can help you choose a sustainable diet that works for you. We have more than 20 dairy-free options, including beverages based on almond, soy, hazelnut, coconut, oat, hemp, and cashew. Our plant-based beverages are there to cover a wide range of dietary needs and preferences.
A great way to ensure that the food you choose is produced sustainably is to add local suppliers to your food shopping plan. Local sourcing has the added benefit of reducing the fossil fuel consumption necessary for transporting products around the world.
Local family farms, area co-ops, responsible grocery stores, and local farmer’s markets can all help you find meat that is raised using more sustainable practices.
These five tips will put you well on your way to a more sustainable diet. However, there are additional steps you can take if you have the time, opportunity, and motivation.
Food waste is a huge issue, globally. Cutting down on waste in your household is often a matter of advanced preparation and effort. Freeze anything you won’t get to while it’s still fresh.
Take note of how far a recipe goes and modify it to meet your family’s needs. Finally, avoid pre-packaged produce that you are unlikely to finish. Instead, buy produce that allows you to select the amount you want.
Another option is to grow some of the food you eat yourself. If you have the chance to have a garden, or even a few food-producing plants, the rewards in terms of taste and sustainability can be immense. There’s nothing like eating something you grew yourself to make a meal more enjoyable.
Seasonal foods are also an important part of sustainability. When you buy foods that are out of season, they were likely grown far away and transported to you with the help of fossil-fuel burning vehicles. Seasonal foods can help you expand your culinary repertoire and introduce you to new flavors you’ll come to crave with the season.
Last but not least is to avoid items that require you to buy or use plastic. Plastic isn’t a sustainable item. Heavily packaged foods are a drain on the environment and tend to be less cost-friendly than other alternatives. The more packaging a product has, the less likely it is to be a good value.
Any steps you choose to take on the path to more sustainable eating are beneficial. At Pacific Foods, we want to help you make choices that serve your needs and the needs of the planet. Add some budget-friendly and sustainable ingredients to your pantry by shopping our products.