YOUR PLATE AND OUR PLANET: CAN WE SAVE OUR PLANET BY EATING HEALTHY?
It is very easy to understand that our planet’s environmental state affects the type and source of our food. The more we do not take care of our planet, the less food that we can produce and consume. But, have you considered that the food you eat affects the world’s resources management? Think about this, if we opt to produce more beef for consumption, more resources are needed to produce this food item. It takes more grains, water, and land to produce a pound of meat than it does to produce the same amount of calories from grains and plant-based food. Aside from this, animals belch out carbon dioxide while plant-based food items help in cleaning out our air. A new perspective, right?
Therefore, if you want to keep the planet healthy, while keeping your body healthy, you may want to check these out:
Be a friend to plant-based food
Vegetables and fruits are the most nutrient-dense food group. A gram of vegetables and fruit contains
lesser calories but more nutrients than meat. A large chunk of your plate must be allotted to these super
foods. Growing these foods does not only help us breathe by producing more oxygen in exchange of
carbon dioxide but are also cost-efficient through resources conservation.
Go local
When you eat locally produced foods, you do not just help the environment but also help our farmers
make a living. And since nutrients constantly decrease after harvesting, locally grown are more
nutritious than those imported abroad.
Minimize meat
Meat products such as beef, pork, and poultry contribute greatly to the greenhouse gas emission that
heats up the planet. Aside from this, livestock uses water inefficiently and most of the time become a
reservoir for diseases affecting humans (e.g. avian flu). Following ones recommended intake for meat-
based food is recommended (i.e. Pinggang Pinoy).
Finish your plate
Be mindful when eating. Get the foods that you can only finish especially when eating out in a buffet.
Remember that edible foods left unconsumed contributes to the waste that should be managed.
Always check your pantry
Always check your food stocks. Make sure that you consume these food items before their expiration
date. Expired food items are not safe for consumption and should be discarded. Always follow the FIFO
rule, or the first-in-first-out, to avoid confusion. Food items that are bought first should be consumed
first to avoid wastage.
These are just some of the ways that you can do to help our planet. In a nutshell, we can save our planet by eating healthy, by demanding healthier food options, and by reducing food waste and loss. Food and environmental sustainability is the responsibility of every one of us. And yes, we can save our planet by eating healthy!