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Honest question time: How much do you think about environmental impact while grocery shopping or dining at restaurants?

Do things like fossil fuel consumption come to mind when ordering a salad or buying veggies? I know, it’s not the sexiest thing to be thinking about while checking the ripeness of an avocado. But it may be one of the most important questions to consider.

And look, I get it… when you’re hangry at your favorite restaurant or trying to get in and out of the grocer with screaming kids waiting in the car it can be challenging to think about ethics behind what you’re ordering or buying.

But the truth is, the food choices we collectively make as a society have huge ramifications on the environment, both in the immediate and distant future.

All food production and distribution—getting it from its source to your plate, cup, bottle, can, etc—requires some carbon footprint; there’s no getting around that. But the choices we make every day can add up to make a positive effect on the environment.

I could go on and on about this because it’s something I’m very passionate about but I promise to make it as simple as possible.

Here are my top tips for making a positive impact on the environment with your food choices.

Eat. More. Plants.

Eat your veggies! And fruits! And nuts! It’s the simplest—and one of the healthiest—changes you can make.

According to one study from 2019, if every American cut their consumption of beef, pork, and poultry by just 25% and substituted with plant proteins instead, we’d save about 82 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. And a societal change of this magnitude could open hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of acres of land for farming veggies rather than used for emission-heavy meat production.

Is plant production perfect? No. There’s plenty of work to be done to make farming more sustainable, too.

But starting with saying no to meat just 1-2 times a week is a great first step to take.

Eat. More. Plants…That are Local and in Season

A chef I know always says, “The best veggies to pair together are the ones growing in season near you.” He’s not only talking about which veggie medley is going to please your palate; there’s also an environmental incentive. It’s pretty simple: The closer the farm is, the less fuel that’s required to get it to you.

In fact, it’s estimated that most produce in the United States travels a whopping 1,500 miles to get from farm to plate. That’s about the distance from Los Angeles to Dallas!

I love getting fresh produce from local farmers’ markets. If you’ve got some in your area, check them out. Not only are you supporting local businesses, but you’re getting fresher produce that was likely farmed within 100 miles or so.

This also means you’re getting tastier, healthier produce. A tomato that’s picked 100 miles away from you can ripen on the vine and be on your plate in days, rather than being plucked unripened and taking weeks to get to you.

Of course, eating local is not always easy or feasible. For example, if you live in a region with harsh winters, your produce will obviously have to come from farther away in December than it does during other parts of the year. But still, consider just how far away it’s had to travel to get to you.

Waste Not, Want Not

Try your best to only buy what you’re going to eat before it goes bad. It may seem like a simple concept but honestly, there’s so much food waste in the world.

It’s estimated that a staggering 80 billion pounds of food is tossed out every year in America. Eighty. Billion. Pounds.

You can make a huge difference by buying only what you need and plan to eat. Letting food spoil or tossing it before it’s actually past its expiration date means that much more food must be made in order to replace it.

There’s a financial benefit, too. The average American family of four throws out an estimated $1,600 a year in produce. That’s money in your pocket when you don’t waste food!

Other Easy Ways to Lessen Your Environmental Impact

• When buying packaged foods, look for items in recyclable packaging (and make sure you put it in the recyclables bin after using!). This goes for takeout too: Support businesses that use recyclable packaging and little to no single-use plastics and other harmful materials.
• How are you carrying around the food you buy in stores and farmers’ markets? Ditch the plastic and opt for reusable bags. Check out my post on redefining reusable grocery bags for tips.

Again, the list of ways your food choices affect the environment is long, and the tips above only scratch the surface. But they are easy ways to start making food choices that lessen your impact on the environment today!