Since October was sustainability month and November is World Vegan Month, I thought this would be the perfect time to talk a little bit about how to eat more sustainably and what that might look like on campus. This can be a confusing concept with all the nutrition information filling the web and on top of worrying about how to eat healthy in general. However, I am here to tell you that eating healthy for you and eating healthy for the plant often go hand in hand. So, it may not be as hard as you think it will! Let’s dive in, shall we?
First, I want to discuss what sustainable eating even is. Although it can be more complicated, for the sake of simplicity, eating sustainably is:
- Healthy and meets People’s Nutrition Needs
- Good for the Environment
- Culturally Acceptable
- Affordable and Easy to Access
- An Effective Way to Reduce Food Waste
- Protective of Biodiversity and Ecosystems
- Produced in a way that is Fair and Equitable to Workers in the Food System
After reading that, you are probably thinking, ‘Emma, this is sounding harder than you said it would be – how the heck am I supposed to know what to buy at the grocery store to meet all those things?’ Well, like I said before a lot of these points go hand in hand, and we will get more into that later. First, I want to talk about why those things are important and why you should care about them.
A major driver of the climate crisis is food systems; they contribute to 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions, and 60% of food produced in Canada is lost or wasted. The impact that foods have on the environment is influenced by the type of food, where it comes from and how it is produced, packaged, processed, and transported. While food waste happens on all levels of the supply chain, almost half of all food waste happens in the home. Therefore, making changes can greatly impact the environment, even if you think it is having no effect. When more people start joining in; the impact gets even more significant, but it only takes one person to start the wave!
So, what changes can you make to get started?
- Choose Plant-based proteins more often.
- Plant-based proteins require less land, energy, and water to produce. They are also good for your health as they pack of punch of fibre, antioxidants, and vitamins!
Try subbing lentils for ground beef or adding beans and chickpeas to soups, salads, and stews! You can also experiment with tofu and incorporate more nuts and seeds into your meals and snacks.
- Reduce Food Waste at home
- Food waste can occur through storing food improperly, preparing too much, shopping impulsively or not planning meals and buying food that is not needed.
Try planning meals for the week to use up foods already in the fridge and buy only what you need. You can also plan meals using similar foods or be creative with leftovers, for example, if you open a can of beans for a salad use the leftovers to make chili! Using frozen foods is another easy way to reduce waste while also being cost-effective.
- Buy Local
- Supporting local farmers helps the local economy and cuts down on transportation for the food to get to your place.
Try visiting markets to get to know local farmers and ask them how they grow their food and what is seasonally available.
- Eat What is in Season
- Eating in season supports local agriculture, contributes to food security, reduces food distance travel, encourages face-to-face interactions in the community, and is less expensive. Check out Canadian Food Focus to see what’s in season in your area!
- Eat Less Processed Foods
- Processed foods go through many steps which increases the energy and resources needed to produce them. Eating less is also good for your health
- Choose Reusable Options
- Using reusable options decreases single-use packing
Try using reusable coffee mugs/water bottles, cutlery and containers at home and at restaurants that allow and use reusable shopping bags when making purchases.
You might be wondering how we are working to reduce our impact on campus. Well, we have a dedicated position for it! (That would be me, Emma – Wellness and Sustainability Coordinator) Having someone whose role is to consider our operations from a sustainability standpoint is a great place to start on top of all our other sustainability programs! I recommend checking out the sustainability section of our website to learn more, but here are a few of my favourites:
- Local Food Program
- Fair Trade Coffee
- Composting Program in partnership with Facilities Management
- Bulk Product Ordering
- Bring your own mug/cutlery
In this role, I am constantly researching and looking into ways we can create a more sustainable food system on campus and am open to your ideas too! I have a few potential projects on the go now and would love to hear your feedback and opinions so please reach out to me by email at herrine@algonquincollege.com anytime!
Overall, there are tons of ways to reduce your impact in a way that fits into your lifestyle, but these are some simple changes you can make today. Continue to learn more about sustainability and look for opportunities to make a difference at home and in your community!
Sources & More Information:
The Planetary Health Diet – EAT (eatforum.org)
Canada’s Food Guide: Healthy Eating and the Environment