Create some new routines
Savvy Tips You Should Know
Being a sustainable advocate and foodie isn’t limited to just changing the food you put in your body, but also where and how you choose the foods you eat. We shine the light on some simple ways to adopt a more sustainable eating lifestyle.
TIPS & TRICKS
GO to a plant-based diet – an effective way to offset unneeded water use, carbon emissions, and chemicals used.
TRY #MeatlessMondays!
EAT meat that’s sustainably, responsibly raised to (1) eliminate hormones and chemicals used, (2) support respectful treatment of animals, (3) regenerates our soil and (4) promotes slow food.
THIS FOR THAT
SWITCH out a few everyday products in your kitchen:
- Milk → Non-Dairy Milk such as Soy, Coconut, Oat or Almond
- Burger → Impossible Burger, Beyond Meat Pattie, Tofu or Veggie Burger
- Regular Produce → Organic Produce
MUST KNOW LINGO
LET’S DIG INTO SOME TERMS YOU GOTTA KNOW!
- ORGANIC: food produced without growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides
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Wild Caught vs Farm-Raised: WILD caught means fish were taken directly from their habitat (ocean, lake, etc.) /
FARM-raised means they were produced commercially in human-made pens. - FREE-RANGE: chickens and hens mean access to movement & outside areas, not caged in a pen.
- Direct-Trade: direct-trade means roasters bought their beans DIRECTLY FROM FARMERS who produced them.
- Fair-Trade: cash crops like coffee, tea, cocoa are FAIRLY TRADED & meet a standard of production meets market value.
- GMO: Genetically Modified Organism crops are changed, altered that's not biologically sustainable.
- Regenerative Farming: promotes healthy soils by RESTORING the nutrients and microbes in the soil after farming.
What Is Sustainable Food?
We inherently understand that eating healthy food means a healthy mind and body. But, knowing what “healthy food” means is a whole other beast these days. On top of that, how we grow our food and throw our food waste out directly impacts us too. So, this concept of healthy food encompasses more than just taking a bite out of that granola bar. The “goodness” of each bite we take is dependent on where the food is grown, quality of the soil and water, how it’s packaged and transported, when it’s delivered, and hundreds of eco-minded practices adopted from beginning to end. Yeah, we know, all this sounds somewhat overwhelming.
But, the fantastic thing about technology, information, and social good people’s will, is that actions are being taken to change how we make our food and feed our people. In this guide and future updates, we are determined to shed light on what we as everyday people, foodies, workers, and shoppers, can do to help tip the balance towards a sustainable and regenerative food consuming habit.
Are Labels Helpful?
These days we’re told to read labels in detail so we can make sure the food we eat is safe. But what if the ingredients list is long and hard to understand (yeah, we’ve been there). Reading labels is important because we need to know the source of the foods we consume; how it’s grown, raised, caught and prepared. Ok, the label doesn’t tell all of that. But, social good brands who make a sustainable commitment do provide us more information. So, look for those detailed stories by brands. We kinda need every one of us to buy from brands whose conservation practices protect the planet and our health.
Giving Back
It can be so much more enjoyable sipping that warm cup of morning joe or tea when you know the person who made it was treated fairly and respectfully. Check out Fair-Trade and Direct Trade coffees and teas. And buying from a smaller brand can mean giving back part of their proceeds to the community who grew the nuts.
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