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To adopt a more environmentally conscious lifestyle, many people have elected to follow more sustainable eating habits in recent years. Some people believe this shift to be a rather drastic lifestyle change, but this is not necessarily true. While you can turn your entire diet on its head if you so desire, there are also many simple ways you can incorporate sustainable eating habits into your current lifestyle. This guide explores how you can do just that, with three simple tips for eating more sustainably.
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Alter your daily diet
One of the simplest tips for eating more sustainably is to alter your daily diet. You don’t need to quit all your favorite foods cold turkey in favor of an entirely vegan diet, however. Even minor adjustments to your diet can help you practice more sustainable eating. Start by going meatless one day per week. It may not seem like much, but it can make a difference over time. You can also experiment with vegan alternatives to your favorite foods. Almond milk, coconut-based ice cream, or cashew cheesecake all taste just as good, if not better, than the real thing. Over time, try to increase the frequency that you eat vegan or vegetarian. Easing in with small steps is the best way to help the habit stick over time.
Grow your own produce
Growing your own produce can often seem like a rather large task, especially for individuals who haven’t been graced with a green thumb. However, with the proper steps, your garden can flourish and you will have fresh fruits and vegetables on your table in no time. Growing your produce detracts from the environmental impact of large agricultural companies around the world. Eating produce that is fresh and in-season from your garden also decreases the environmental impact of transporting produce around the world. Items that are currently out of season in your own location are generally exported from various destinations around the world. As an added bonus, growing your own food means no wasteful packaging and no harmful pesticides and chemicals, both of which can harm the environment significantly.
Reduce food waste
Food waste plays a large role in sustainability, but it’s one that frequently goes unnoticed. Roughly 30 to 40% of all food is wasted in the United States. Food waste occurs greatly on the manufacturing side of the food industry, but it’s also common on a consumer level. Do your part to reduce food waste by only purchasing the items you need and composting food scraps. Try to avoid food items that are heavily packaged as well. Most materials that come in contact with food cannot be recycled, even after cleaning.
