What you eat can have a lethal impact on the planet. Whether it is through its transport or its cultivation, you can always be fooled.
Luckily, we have put together three solutions for you to become much greener when you eat your dinner.
- Eating local seasonal fruits and vegetables
Buying produce that can be grown in your country at the time you are buying it is one of the easiest ways to preserve the environment whilst appreciating a good meal. You simply have to be aware of the fruit and veg that can be grown locally before you go shopping. This is important because generally supermarkets offer a wide variety of fruit/vegetables and it is extremely difficult to find locally-grown ones.
Here is a rough list of what you can buy when (for the UK):
Be careful, sometimes you still need to check the origin of what you are buying because even though it can be grown in your country, it doesn’t mean it is although this is normally quite rare).
You can use these links to find more detailed charts/tables:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/seasonal-calendar
https://www.readersdigest.ca/food/healthy-food/when-fruits-vegetables-are-in-season/
- Going to your local farmers’ market
Another good way to eat is to go to your local farmers’ market. In fact, I would say it is easier than the first option because there is no need to know the seasonal pick: everything is straight from the farm. Moreover, the produce is never wrapped. This means that, through this action, you can buy unwrapped locally produced seasonal fruit and vegetables, preserving our beautiful planet earth. Sometimes, there are even other items, such as pastries, so what are you waiting for?
- Buying as much organic produce as you can
If you decide to go to the supermarket, either because you don’t have the time or the willpower to shop at your farmers’ market, then try to buy organic. It might seem a little more expensive but it makes a significant difference compared to normal alternatives so the price deficit is really worth it. The major benefits are the following:
- there are no genetically modified crops and ingredients,
- the use of pesticides is severely restricted,
- artificial chemical fertilisers are prohibited
- farm animal welfare is paramount.
In a nutshell, it is better for you and for the planet. If you need more convincing, you can get more details here. Just remember, every time you buy organic you are persuading more farmers to grow organic, creating an everlasting virtuous cycle.
To conclude, the more you try to include these actions in your day to day lives, the less the carbon footprint of your food will be.
Written in September 2022 © Your Green Footprint