Our food system, from growing and producing food to the people consuming it, contributes to climate change. Making small changes within the family home can impact the health of our planet. Making some of these changes may be easier than you think. Here are some ways you and your family can eat, cook, and shop in a more sustainable way.
Incorporate More Plant-Based Options into Your Family’s Diet
Our food system is responsible for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions emitted each year; 47% is from livestock production alone. Many people are adopting a plant-based lifestyle for this reason alone and recent research has shown the best approach is to reduce the amount of meat products consumed each day. Reducing the amount of animal products consumed can have a pretty big impact.
You can start by cooking one plant-based meal each day or by following the popular #MeatlessMonday trend. This works for family members of all ages – even babies! Many favourite family meals can be made plant-based. Spaghetti is a great meal and to make plant-based. Try substituting ground beef for lentils. The lentils in this dish provides a similar texture as ground meat, is a great source of plant-based protein, and adds fibre to this family classic.
Buy Local or Grow Your Own!
Hit up your local farmers market. Shopping locally significantly reduces the amount of emissions from the transportation of food. Before your next trip out to the grocery store, check out a farmer’s market (or head right to the farm for a fun weekend adventure). Don’t forget to pack those reusable bags!
Another option, and great to involve children with, is to grow your own produce. This can be done at a community garden, in a backyard garden at home or in pots on a deck or balcony. Children will learn more about where their food comes from, and the work involved in growing it. Despite the long, cold winters here in Canada, many herbs and vegetables can grow fairly well indoors, in the right conditions.
Try growing some indoor lettuces or hearty herbs like basil or parsley this fall or winter.
Reduce Your Family’s Food Waste
It may be shocking to learn that around 40% of food grown and produced in Canada is wasted; almost half of that food waste happens at home. That is a lot of food - and a lot of dollars that could be saved! Here are some tips for reducing your food waste at home:
1. Plan your family meals ahead of time. This may sound like a lot of work, but can be a real game-changer in reducing food waste and making weekday family meals easier. Start by planning the meals you and your family will eat each day of that week and base the grocery list on that. This also helps to reduce impulse purchases and it will save you money.
2. Make a soup. Soup can be very easy to make and makes great use of leftover foods or odds and ends of vegetables not used up towards the end of the week. Just chop them all up and throw them into a pot of broth with whatever spices you enjoy. For a protein and fibre punch, add a can of your favourite low-sodium beans or lentils. To reduce your waste even further, try making the broth using your vegetable food scraps like, carrot peels, onion skins, and celery tops.
3. Compost and use as a natural and organic garden fertilizer. If you have a garden at home, compost (once broken down) can be a great fertilizer that your plants will love. Mix it in with the soil and see your plants flourish.
Steps toward a more sustainable household doesn’t have to be hard. Whether you try to reduce your family’s food waste, incorporate more plant-based foods into your family meals or buy more local food, you can be sure you and your family are doing your part in contributing towards a more sustainable food system.
This post was researched and written in collaboration with nutrition student, Maggie Muck