Feeding Your Family: Ideas That Are Good For The Environment!

Something we all need to be a little more concerned with is sustaining the planet and doing what we can to keep it going. There are so many ways you can do this, from making sure you recycle to working with environmentally friendly companies. However, one really great way you can do it is by changing the way you feed your family. These ideas are good for the environment: check them out!

Buy Products With Minimal Packaging

When you go shopping, aim to purchase products with minimal packaging. Some packaging can’t be recycled at all. If you are buying products with less packaging, chances are, you’re buying healthier, more natural food too. Things like fruit and veggies shouldn’t be coming with a lot of packaging at all. If you get tired of trying to chop up fruit and veg, don’t worry - Cut It Fine can give you some tips.

Research The Companies You Buy From

Do your research on the companies and supermarkets you buy from so you know who is good for the environment and who isn’t. Aim to buy solely from companies that you know care about the environment and do their best for them. Sometimes, this is smaller stores rather than chain stores.

Buy Local Produce

Aim to buy local produce grown in your area. This produce hasn’t been transported thousands of miles to get to you, so it’s instantly healthier and more fresh than any other option. You’re also putting money back into your community, which can be really useful.

Image from Flickr

Image from Flickr

Buy Organic Foods

Organic foods are grown and processed using farming methods that recycle and promote biodiversity. They don’t use synthetic pesticides or any other nasties. Organic foods can be more expensive, but many of them have a long term pay off that you should be proud of supporting. If you are on a budget, it’s worth researching the organic foods that make the most difference.

Eat Things That Are In Season

Eating in season means eating locally, as mentioned earlier. Get to know what’s in season for you so you know what you should be eating.

Grow Your Own Fruits And Veg

It doesn’t have to be difficult to grow your own fruits and veg. In fact, there are lots of apps that can help you to get started. This can be a really great hobby, as well as healthier for your family and the environment.

Cut Back On Dairy

You can instantly lessen your environmental impact by eating less dairy. Creating one pound of cheese can create up to 11 pounds of carbon dioxide. This is a big driver of climate change, so isn’t great for the environment at all. By cutting back on dairy, you can not only become healthier, but work towards a healthier environment too.

Eat Less Meat

Meat that is industrially farmed has the biggest impact on the environment than any other food product. You don’t have to go veggie or vegan, but making an effort to eat less meat will make a big difference. 

Turn Your Leftovers Into New Meals

Don’t be wasteful and throw your leftovers away. Get creative and use them to make new meals!

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Nicole Caldwell

Nicole Caldwell is a self-taught environmentalist, green-living savant and sustainability educator with more than a decade of professional writing experience. She is also the co-founder of Better Farm and president of betterArts. Nicole’s work has been featured in Mother Earth News, Reader’s Digest, Time Out New York, and many other publications. Her first book, Better: The Everyday Art of Sustainable Living, is due out this July through New Society Publishers.