Sustainability: the what and why?

By Kathy Brown, NYNG Intern & RD-to-be

 This word seems to pop up in conversations and product marketing everywhere these days, but what is it?  What exactly does it mean to have a sustainable diet?  How could what a person eats possibly impact the environment?  Well, it’s a little more complicated than just simply eating organic, so we are going to try and break it all down for you and give you some tips to make your diet more sustainable.

First thing’s first – what is a sustainable diet?  According to the Food and Agriculture Organization for the United Nations, “Sustainable diets are those diets with low environmental impacts that contribute to food and nutrition security and to healthy life for present and future generations.  Sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy; while optimizing natural and human resources.”  Basically, a sustainable diet takes into consideration not only what you eat, but also where it was produced, how it was produced, who produced it and whether they were treated and compensated fairly, how far it had to travel to get to your plate, and even how much and what kind of packaging it comes in. 

All these factors play a role in whether or not future generations will have enough safe and healthy food.  According to the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the earth’s population is expected to grow from 7 billion today to 10 billion people by 2050.  Much of our current food system relies on large-scale industrial farming, processed and packaged foods, and imported foods.  Industrial agriculture alone is responsible for soil erosion, air and water pollution, contamination of foods with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and depletion of natural resources such as water, fuel, and forests.   Even commercial fishing plays a role in endangering the future food supply by over-fishing certain species and contaminating waters.

That’s a lot to digest, and when the facts are laid out like that, it can be a bit overwhelming.  You might start to question whether there’s even anything you can still eat without endangering planet earth.  Never fear!  Even small changes can have an impact. Here are some things you can start doing today to make your diet more sustainable:

·        Eat whole, not processed, foods.  Processed foods require so many resources from producing the raw materials, to processing and packaging the product at a manufacturing facility, to transportation between all phases from seed to plate. All of this contributes significant environmental pollution as well.

·        Buy local.  Simply put, less travel means less pollution.  Also, time can deplete certain nutrients in food, so buying local is healthier for you and the environment.  Win, win!  Visit your local farmer’s markets or join a CSA (community supported agriculture) program for great locally raised produce and meats/seafood.

·        Buy organic.  Food produced following USDA organic standards contributes significantly less pollution to the environment and minimizes contamination of the food itself.  Note that many small local farmers that follow organic practices may not be certified organic because of the cost and time required to obtain certification.  The farmer’s market is a great place to be able to talk directly to the farmer and find out how your food is raised!

·        Limit meat consumption.  Not only does raising animals drain natural resources and contribute to pollution, but research has shown that eating less meat and more plants is actually better for your health!  When you do purchase meat and dairy, it’s important to purchase from farms that rotate crops seasonally and use the animals to fertilize them.  Look for grass fed, pasture raised red meat and dairy, and pasture raised poultry and pork.

·        Know where your seafood comes from.  Look for seafood that comes from sustainable fisheries and, if your fish is wild-caught, make sure it is a species that is not over-fished.  Check out https://www.seafoodwatch.org for a guide to sustainable seafood in your area!

·        Limit packaging.  Less packaging = less pollution.  If it can’t be avoided, look for packaging that is reusable, biodegradable, or recyclable.

·        Bring your own reusable bags when you shop.

·        Swap out disposable storage containers and sandwich bags for reusable eco-friendly options.

·        Shop at local businesses that have sustainable practices.  If you aren’t sure what businesses around you make the cut, ConsciousCityGuides.com is a good place to start.

If we all make the effort to integrate sustainable practices into our daily lives, we can change the future of our food system and our planet and ensure food security for generations to come!