It's time to start thinking more about how our food choices affect our health, our planet and future generations. By eating more sustainably, you'll be choosing food that is better for your body as well as the environment. BentallGreenOak Residential Services has 5 tips for eating more sustainably.
Eat more locally-grown vegetables and fruit
There are a few reasons to consider eating more locally-grown food. First of all, it's healthier, and fresher. When you buy fruits and veggies that are shipped from across the world, they are picked before they've had a chance to ripen, so they naturally have less nutrients. Second of all, shopping locally is a great way to support your community and local farmers. It's also a great way to develop a connection with your food because you have a better idea of where it's grown and by whom.
Eat more grains and pulses
Instead of eating so much meat, try adding more grains, beans and lentils to your diet. They are filled with all kinds of minerals, protein and fiber and tend to be much more affordable than meat. Pulses are also good for the environment and have a small carbon footprint. They produce their own nitrogen which is great for the soil.
Eat less meat
Eating less meat doesn't mean you need to cut it out completely. Start by picking a few days a week to not eat meat. Replace your typical meat-focused meals with beans, lentils and soy products. Eventually, try to get to a point where you eat it only once a week or less. Your grocery bill will be lower and eating less meat has proven to be better for your health. When you do decide to shop for meat, eat better meat! Instead of buying highly-processed meats, buy from small, local farms and check the labels!
Eat sustainable seafood, avoid the rest
A lot of people love seafood, but overfishing is a serious problem. You can choose sustainable seafood by only buying certain species. Check out Ocean Wise to find out which fish species are ok to buy and what to avoid. Try to stay away from farmed fish as much as possible because they tend to be higher in Omega-6 fatty acids, which can be more inflammatory. Fish farms are also destructive to natural ecosystems.
Buy sustainable chocolate
The next time you buy chocolate, go for a brand that's fair trade and organic. You'll be supporting environmentally-friendly production methods as well as safe working conditions for farmers. Fair trade chocolate doesn't use child labour and contains higher amounts of cocoa, which is better for you! A few amazing brands include Giddy Yoyo, Camino, Zazubean and ChocoSol Traders.
Eating sustainably doesn't have to be very hard, it just requires a little more thought and care on your part and benefits everyone! BentallGreenOak Residential Services hopes these tips were helpful and inspired you to start eating more sustainably. For information on BentallGreenOak Properties across Canada, please visit our website.