May top tips | sustainable eating

Hi,

This month we will be talking about how to eat in a more environmentally way! Food is a very important part of many cultures, however unfortunately its production and transport can have consquences for the environment. So let's talk about how to aviod that.

1. Avoid palm oil

We've mentioned this before but basically palm oil is very bad for the environment and its production often violates human rights. Workers are paid far less than they should be and deforestation is almost always part of the process of producing palm oil. It isn't easy to avoid but it is possible. All you need to do is check the packaging. Often it says that it is 'responsibly sourced' or 'eco friendly'; that normally means that less harm is done but sadly, it sometimes means that the producers don't allow inspection.

2. Eat less meat

Eating animals is bad for the environment and bad for your health. For instance, cows produce methane which is a greenhouse gas. Also, breeding animals just to kill them is immoral. Meat production also requires a lot of space, which leads to deforestation of rainforests like the Amazon. These then need food, meaning even more land and water is wasted.

3. Grow your own food

Growing food at home is good in multiple ways.

For example:

Saves money - only buy once (seeds)
Saves journeys to and from shops - and saves petrol (and CO2)
Fun and enjoyable for the family - everyone can join in and have fun
Sustainable and a reliable source - regenerative and cheap

The only downside is that you need a garden or sunny room and that you can't go on holiday for too long without getting someone to water the plants.

4. Eat what is in season

By only eating what is locally in season you avoid long transport distances and artificially produced fruit which is no where near as tasty.

5. Reduce food waste

When you waste food, you are not only using up resources that others desperately need, you're also wasting the time and effort put into transporting and producing that food. In the United States alone, roughly 30-40 percent of the total food supply is thrown away.

6. Compost your food waste

If you have to waste food then at least compost it because when you compost food it is good for a number of animals including worms, hedgehogs and plants since it improves the structure of the soil and provides nutrients.

7. Buy fewer processed foods

Processed food doesn't contain the same health benefits as naturally sourced foods and although it stops you from feeling hungry it isn't good for you in the long run. Also, the process of producing processed food has negative effects for the natural world.

8. Cook more at home

Often, food cooked at home is more nutritious than food bought at a restaurant since you can make sure you only use sustainable products and you know exactly what is going into what you eat. Also, it can be fun to make food together as a family and is satisfying to eat something you have made yourself.

9. Bring your own containers

When out and about, bringing your own reusable containers can reduce the amount of plastic waste that you throw away. These containers can be used multiple times so there is no need to buy new every time (also reducing money)

10. Say no to straws

By now this is commonly known, but by bringing your own reusable straw, you can help stop this plastic from reaching the ocean where they can harm the wildlife living there.

So there you have it, 10 simple ways to help the environment while still enjoying your meal!

Your Green World Blog Team💚

Sources:
https://www.wwf.org.uk/betterbasket
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/10-ways-eat-out-sustainably
https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/six-tips-help-you-eat-more-sustainably

Image: This image is owned by a blog editor.

Comments

Ecosia

We all need to do something to save our planet: it is no use just leaving it to Greta Thunberg! She is very inspirational, yes, but she can only do so much. She isn't superhuman! The climate crisis is up to us; up to you. We all have to get stuck in. Research, learn, discover and most importantly: never give up! The world's animals need us. The world's trees need us and a simple way to do this is to switch to Ecosia. Ecosia is a search engine but it plants trees while you search the web. Okay, it doesn't have as many websites as google so you may want to have google as a backup but it plants trees: this is your opportunity to make a simple change. Just google Ecosia and search to plant trees. Make a difference. Image: This image is owned by Binyamin Mellish on pexels.com .

Announcement: Factfile

This image is owned by a blog editor.

16.08.2020 Animal of the week: Elephant

Hello. On the 12th of August it was International Elephant Day, so we decided that this week's post should be about elephants. Elephants are the largest living land mammals. There are three types of elephant; the African bush elephant; the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant. African elephants have larger ears, whereas Asian elephants have smaller ears. Elephants use their trunks to breath, bring food and drink to their mouths and to grasp objects. Elephants' legs are like pillars. They carry the Elephant's massive weight. African bush elephants weigh 6000kg, Asian elephants weigh 4000kg and African forest elephants weigh 2700kg. Basically, they are very heavy.Elephants eat grasses, small plants, bushes, fruit, twigs, tree bark, and roots. Elephants can live up to 70 years old in the wild. They communicate by sight, touch and smell. Sadly, these wonderful mammals are in danger. African elephants are listed as vulne...

Air pollution

Hi Everyone, Today we're talking about air pollution. We've all heard about air pollution, normally in connection to cars, coal mines or planes. But what are the consequences of too much air pollution and what can we do about it? One type of air pollution is known as PM2.5. These are particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. This means that we cannot see them without technology such as microscopes. They are produced in a number of different ways including power generation, motor traffic, domestic heating and chemical reactions taking place in the air around us. Although these particles are very small and "invisible", they can cause a lot of damage. Research data now shows links between this form of air pollution and cancers, premature births, diabetes (especially type 2) and heart and lung disease. It is shown to cause 400 000 deaths across Europe every year. Unfortunately this form of air pollution is widespread. A guardian article explains how in Europe alone...

Ways to help make your household environmentally friendly

We have told you a bit about the problems that the environment is facing in previous posts but we haven’t told you how to help the environment around the house. You don’t even need a garden to make a difference! Ways to help stop global warming Tip 1: Turn the lights off when you leave a room. Tip 2: Walk or cycle on short journeys. Tip 3: Don’t have the windows open and the heaters on at the same time. Tip 4: Never leave your engine running Tip 5: If you can, buy an electric car as these produce less Co2. Ways to help stop plastic pollution Tip 1: Buy a water bottle. It seems simple but every year the UK uses an estimated 13 billion plastic bottles. Tip 2: Use a bar of soap and a bar of shampoo instead of shower gel and bottled shampoo. Some say soap can dry your skin out but if you do your research you can find plastic-free high-quality soap, perhaps at a price but it depends on where you get it from. Tip 3: Make...

Killing invasive species: necessary?

Hi everyone, Today's topic is a rather controversial one: is killing invasive species necessary? We'll take it apart for you to come up with your own opinion. Enjoy! Definition Firstly, let's clarify what an invasive species is. An invasive species is a species that is not native and most likely causes harm to the ecosystem where it now lives. This does not include animals that migrate to another area. Why is it a problem? Depending on the species and the ecosystem, invasive species can cause a lot of harm to their surroundings. Often invasive species have no predators in their new habitat and reproduce in such large numbers that they massively overpopulate, causing death for other species. Or they bring sicknesses the local animals are not accustomed to, and that kills them. For example black and brown rats are an invasive species on the Galapagos Islands : Black and brown rats were introduced to the Galapagos Islands in the 17th ce...

10 Animals on the Edge of Extinction No. 10- The Javan Rhino

The Javan rhino is listed as the 1st animal on WWF’s list of the 10 world’s most endangered animals, and I for my part, had never heard of it! If you hadn’t either, we’re changing that now. A bit about the rhino’s lifestyle The Javan rhinos are now exclusively found on the island of Java in Indonesia, but were once found in vast regions of northeast india and Southeast Asia. They have a dark grey colour which looks almost black when wet, and their (often pink) skin folds look a bit like plated armor. Both males and females have lower incisors which resemble tusks that they use to fight. Males have one relatively short horn of about 25 cm (10 inches). Javan Rhinos live in tropical forests, marshy areas and in the thick bush. They are mainly browsers and eat over 100 plants species they find in the forest, weigh between 900 and 2300 kg (1984-5071 pounds) and are between 3 and 3.2 meters (10- 10.5 feet) long. How endangered are we talking? Javan rhinos are the most ...

Ozone layer

Hi everyone, What even is ozone? And the ozone layer? Where does the hole in the ozone layer come from and what does it mean? Is it dangerous? What can be done? Often the ozone-talk can be complicated and confusing, keeping an overview is hard and understanding all the problems always difficult. Let us break it down a bit for you: What is the ozone layer? We'll start with the basics: The ozone layer is part of the stratosphere, which is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, between 10 and 50 km above the Earth's surface and made up of protective gases. One of these protective gases is ozone. There is not much ozone in the atmosphere, only 0.3 molecule of ozone per 1 million molecules of air. This is because ozone is chemically unstable and only forms when ultra violet radiation (UV light) hits oxygen and breaks the bonds between the atoms. It fact it is so unstable that even when it has formed, it breaks down again relatively quickly. This leads to ozone turning back ...

Marine heatwaves - an ever growing threat?

Hi everyone, So today we're talking about marine heatwaves. We all know about normal heatwaves, they come almost every summer and are either a blessing or a curse depending on where you live. But today we're talking about marine heatwaves. They are increasing rapidly and have become a commonly mentioned topic. There are multiple definitions of marine heatwaves. Generally, they are considered a period of time with unusually high temperatures. Exactly how high and for how long changes depending on which definition you choose. The most common one definition is when the temperature is over the 90th percentile of the area's average seasonal temperature for at least 5 days in a row. For anyone who doesn't know what a percentile is, if you take a test and are at the 90th percentile then it means you are better than 90% of the people who took that test. So in our context, the temperature has to be higher than 90% of the seasonal temperatu...

Sustainable food choices challenge

Hi everyone, Welcome back to our second challenge! Today we're talking about sustainable food choices. 1. No meat on Mondays challenge The production of meat, especially beef, is resource-intensive and contributes significantly to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. By dedicating one day a week to plant-based meals, you can decrease your carbon footprint and help to reduce the strain on natural resources. This challenge encourages a more sustainable and ethical approach to food consumption, gaining a better understanding of the environmental impact of meat production. Reducing meat intake is also associated with health benefits, including lower risks of heart disease and certain cancers, making it a win-win for both your personal well-being and the planet. 2. Local / seasonal eating challenge Choosing local and seasonal foods is important in helping to reduce the environmental impact of food production and transporta...

Green World

Search This Blog