Sustainable eating habits that can help the environment without dominating your life

Climate change affects our food and our food affects the weather. NPR has a week devoted to it Stories and conversations about finding solutions.

What we eat plays a role in the health of our environment. Here are some things to consider when trying to make actionable changes to improve your impact without breaking the bank.

“Local”: More about how far your food has traveled

When we talk about eating local as a climate solution, we’re talking about the energy and resources it takes to get that tomato from a farm in Florida to your kitchen. But as WBUR Boston’s Barbara Moran explains:

“[I]In the middle of a New England winter, no one grows tomatoes locally unless they are grown hydroponically or in a greenhouse. While these methods can be environmentally sound, studies show that tomatoes grown on a Florida farm have a lower environmental impact than greenhouse tomatoes from Ontario or hydroponic tomatoes from Maine.

➡️ Test: How much do you know about the impact of local foods on climate change?

It looks different depending on where you live

In 2022, WBUR Boston’s Andrea Shea went on a hardcore search for a week to see how practical it would be. Beyond the obvious changes (sourcing bananas, lemons and avocados locally in New England is challenging at best), finding many ingredients within 200 miles of home was not impossible, but stressful.

Local maple syrup source? check Eggs? check Coffee? not so much

➡️ What is the cost of eating a local for a week in New England?
➡️ The growth of the “Farm to School” movement provides fresh, local produce to children

When you strive for perfection and try to source exclusively from your area, you can quickly become overwhelmed or blow your budget.

How to make eating local a reality in your community

It boils down to taking advantage of the season, availability and affordability.

Not all of us have access to multiple supermarkets or grocery stores, let alone find locally grown grains or spices that are within our budget. But more options are emerging, and when you can use them, it can help improve that access for others.

This pop-up food stand in Charlotte, North Carolina, is offering a food desert in the community and raising money to add a local grocery store, kitchen training and meat processing center. As WFAE Charlotte’s Zachary Turner reports, the effort is designed to help local farmers and increase access to local food in the area.

“If we’re going to save our farmland, our farmers have to make money,” said Zach Wyatt, CEO of Carolina Farm Trust. “If we care about climate change, then we have to farm the right way.”

Meat: Nothing? less? What can be done?

Should there be none? not exactly

As a goal, our nutrition scientists recommend adults eat less than half an ounce of red meat a day for good health. That works out to about 3.5 ounces—or a serving of red meat. per week. And it has much less red meat than the average American currently consumes: an estimated 2 to 3 ounces. in the day

Climate scientists also want us to consume less to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and resources associated with commercial meat production.

➡️ This diet replacement can reduce your carbon footprint and increase your lifespan
➡️ Millions of women are “less than muscle”. These foods help to increase strength

It’s not zero, but it’s certainly a lot less for most Americans. And what you replace affects not only the weather but also your health.

In 2022, WBUR Boston’s Barbara Moran looked at the plant-based vs. traditional breakdown of a few key alternatives like chicken, eggs, milk and cheese.

But none of it gets any more fun.

Access to easy and affordable vegetarian or vegan foods is improving in many parts of the country. Julie Lochta of Boise Public Radio in Idaho found a number of menus that offered options to reduce meat consumption, “despite the reputation of red meat and potatoes.”

➡️ Non-white Americans eat less meat. Vegan activists of color explain why
Don’t make it vegan: What hospitals are learning about encouraging people to eat greener

Just last month in the Bay Area, KQED’s Luke Tsai found “a multicultural smorgasbord of jollof, lumpia, curry rice bowls, Cajun fried chicken and Dole Whip-style soft serve” — all vegan — at one of the area’s biggest food festivals. .

Amazing stable switches

Then there are creative solutions that won’t work for everyone, but may inspire you as you find more sustainable eating habits.

Worried about invasive species? Try to eat them.

KCUR has compiled a list of edible invasive species to try if you’re in the Kansas City area.

Please note: Foraging can pose serious risks if done incorrectly. Those looking to forage should do thorough research from several reputable sources, consult with experts, and exercise caution.

Some seafood, which is a problem in some parts of the country, can be an easy, sustainable alternative to tougher options. For example, in the Pacific Northwest, green crabs are aggressive, but can be a local substitute for the blue crabs found in many East Coast recipes.

➡️ What makes seafood sustainable?
Is it okay to eat farmed fish? Here’s what you need to know
➡️ “Have I eaten my last good oyster?”

After the recent emergence, finding things to do with all the cicadas was a big goal. An option? Fry them and add to the food until it becomes a little crispy.

When home growing can be affordable

In some situations, growing crops or medicinal plants can be the best option to reduce food costs.

Not sure where to start? Life Kit has a step-by-step guide to starting an edible garden (no matter how little space you have available.)