7 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint With Food

Here’s a question for you: how do you decide on your weekly food purchases? Most of it is likely your family’s favorites. The nutritional value will weigh in, too. Then the price is another deciding factor for many people, especially during times of economic turbulence.

Now, if you’re concerned about your impact on the environment, then minimizing your personal carbon footprint should also be part of your food purchasing decision. The fact is, what you eat could be a drain on the environment. From production and processing to packaging, warehousing, transportation, and retailing, the entire food value chain is marred with emissions. But the impact is different with each food. So, by making the right food choices, you can significantly reduce your environmental footprint. In some cases, with the right food habits, you might be able to cut down up to 80% of your greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). That’s a staggering amount by any measure.

Reduce your carbon footprint with food

So, how can you minimize your carbon footprint with food? Here are 7 simple steps to help get you started.

1. Check the packaging

Plastic packaging materials used by manufacturers and shopping bags and containers used by retailers can all add up to a significant amount of GHG emissions. So, start by taking your own reusable bags and containers to the grocer. Avoid food that relies on single-use plastic packaging. Stay away from plastic water bottles and takeaway meals packed in styrofoam containers.

2. Eat less meat

Meats have a far greater carbon footprint than grains and vegetables. So, cutting down on meat consumption could have a dramatic impact on the environment. Start with small steps like skipping meat one day each week or having meat once per day. Then increase the frequency with slow, deliberate steps. It’ll also allow your body to adjust to a new dietary habit. But don’t forget to replace animal proteins with plant-based alternatives.

3. Have more seasonal fruits and veggies

Switching to a vegetarian diet could help you avoid the significant GHG emissions associated with meat. But using more locally-grown seasonal produce could help cut down your carbon footprint even further. It’s because storing and transporting fruits and vegetables to consume off-season could increase their impact on the environment. You can also see this effect at play when consuming imported produce.

4. Consume in moderation

The negative health implications of excessive eating don’t require much elaboration. But it doesn’t stop there. The more food you eat, the higher your carbon footprint. So, stick to a balanced, nutrition-rich diet that could meet the recommended calorie intake. Avoid unhealthy snacks such as sweets and processed food that bear no nutritional value. It could help you cut down on your environmental impact and live a healthier life.

5. Cut down on wastage

The food you throw into the trash has a carbon footprint, too. It’s already accumulated as it traveled from the farm to your home. And when it reaches a landfill as waste, it’ll release another GHG, methane, as it rots. This is why reducing food wastage is essential, both for your wallet and the planet. Serve only what you can consume and adopt proper storage practices to extend usable time. Regularly check for use-by dates and plan meals effectively to avoid wastage due to expiration.

6. Grow your own food

Growing your produce in your garden or even in pots on your balcony could be an excellent option to minimize the carbon footprint of what you eat. They’ll contain zero packagings and will require no transportation. Homegrown food is also packed with nutrients, tastes better, and is toxin-free. Besides, gardening has many health benefits, from reducing stress to fighting chronic illnesses such as heart disease. 

7. Shop smart

Smart shopping practices could go a long way to minimize your environmental impact. For instance, plan your weekly purchases based on regular consumption. Be mindful of which food items you choose. Organic food generally involves less GHG emissions. But this is not always the case. For example, organic soy milk is more carbon-intensive than its regular alternative. And don’t just consider food miles. Take into account how they are transported, manufactured, and packaged.

Your food choices and dietary habits are no longer about just maintaining healthy mental and physical wellbeing. They can play a much bigger role in cutting down your personal greenhouse gas emissions and saving the planet. So, shop smart and make mindful purchases with less meat and more fruits and vegetables. Cut down your exposure to plastics and adopt responsible consumption habits.