Looking after the environment is increasingly becoming less of an option, and more of a necessity for our ongoing health. With plastic being found in our drinking water, to increased carbon emissions causing the premature death of millions world-wide, it's time to get our super-hero capes on and actively save the world. While that seems like a daunting task, you can get started at lunch through sustainable food choices.
Easily explained by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, sustainable eating involves choosing plant or animal food products that are farmed through techniques which have minimal impact on the environment, namely through minimised waste production.
Finding a start is even easier than you probably thought possible, and you can get a head start towards sustainability at your next meal according to Paul McGrath, Group Executive Chef at The Grounds of Alexandria. His approach to food calls for honest, seasonal food and is firmly committed to sustainability despite being a rival to the finest dining restaurants for quality and consistency, and he shares his top tips for towards sustainable eating with MH:
STEP 1: Do your homework! Research supermarket and brands websites to find their ethical commitments. If it's not online, make contact with them to find out if they'll share their information.
STEP 2: Sign up for local vege/fruit box schemes or a co-op to support local businesses with transparency around where the produce is coming from. This means your produce will be fresh too!
STEP 3: Choose sustainable meat and fish from local farms - Good Fish Bad Fish is a great website to find out what species are sustainable to eat.
STEP 4: Instigate Meat Free days or reduce your meat consumption altogether. This allows you to spend money on good quality grass fed meat that you eat less often and also reduces your carbon footprint and makes meat a more sustainable food source.
