Sustainability at the Dinner Table
We are witnessing the adverse effects of climate change every day with no end in sight unless our habits and choices that we make in our daily lives change to preserve our planet and its resources. Eating sustainably is one of those ways. Although the topic of sustainability seems like a never-ending conversation, it’s something that should be taken seriously if we want to meet our present needs without comprising the needs of future generations.
Eating sustainably means being conscious of what we’re consuming and opting for foods that have low environmental impact. Foods that have lower environmental impact actually improves adult health so we can lower the frequency of preventable diseases and meet environmental sustainability targets at the same time.
According to this diagram, beef emits the largest amount of greenhouse gases while nuts emit the least. Of course, there are only a handful of food products listed in the diagram, but it is evident that the overconsumption of meat and dairy is harmful to the environment while plant-based foods have a more positive impact. The goal is to minimize greenhouse gases throughout the food production process and avoid damaging natural resources. However, with over 7 billion people in the world to feed daily, it is impossible to fully de-carbonize food production – the best we could do is try to lower these emissions by consciously choosing what to eat.
This doesn’t mean that we all have to become vegans and vegetarians because for a lot of people, especially families where both parents are working, eating meat is a quick way to acquire protein, which can otherwise be time-consuming to obtain through plant-based recipes. We don’t have to cut out all meat, but we can actively reduce our intake. This means being conscious of what we’re buying at grocery stores, spending a little extra time on dinner preparing a new plant-based meal, checking out sustainable cafes and restaurants in the area. Small steps are commendable.
In terms of cost, research suggests that in higher-income countries, it is between 22 and 34% cheaper to eat sustainably with less of a reliance on meat. However, in lower-income countries it is 29% more expensive to eat sustainably. That is due in part to factors such as local market conditions and food trade dynamics. So, while it is cheaper for us living in higher-income countries to reduce our reliance on meat products– that is not the case for other parts of the world as of right now. Still, the findings suggest that a sustainable diet is less expensive than a meat-centric diet overall and if policies would be put in place to reflect the true environmental and health costs of conventional diets then eating sustainably would become cheaper across all countries.
As we look towards the future, we must remain hopeful. We don’t have to drastically change the way we live and the way we eat, but our choices should be intentional in everything we do. We are living in a time where everything seems to be bought in haste, where impulse marketing is an accepted practice, where we are constantly pushed into buying things and food products that will eventually go to waste. Being concerned about the state of our world is one thing, but taking action, even small steps, is what is going to change this world because, ultimately, it starts with changing ourselves.