The reasons to eat sustainably are obvious… It’s healthier, better for the environment (something we really need to be paying attention to in the era of Trump), and it promotes the local economy. Great! However, you’ll notice that not very many people do it. It’s one of those things, like working out. Everyone knows it’s good for them. The word “sustainable” is, after all, a positive. But not everyone does it, either because they don’t know what it really means or because it’s too much work for what it is apparently worth.
So, let’s start with the first problem. Eating sustainably basically can be broken down to one component. You eat “sustainably” by eating locally and, by definition, eating seasonally. This means buying produce that was made, at least, in the same state as you. It means, therefore, not eating strawberries in the fall, because they are most likely not harvested at that time where you are located. It means not eating much beef, which, if you didn’t know, is a leading cause of Methane emissions (a greenhouse gas contributing to global warming). It means paying a lot more attention to what you are eating, where it came from, and how it was produced. Watch Food Inc. if you need more reasons why this a good idea.
The main problem, however, is that it’s expensive and as college students, expensive is not something we can easily do.
That’s why I put together this list of tips that will get you started on the road toward more healthy, sustainable eating habits without going broke
1. Learn to cook
The most obvious and difficult to execute. I know, I know. You want to cook. You’re planning on learning to cook, but it’s just SO MUCH WORK. I get it. I really do. But the bottom line is, as deliciously cheap as it is, ramen is just not good for you… like, at all. Especially not every day.
So start off small; Learn to make soups and stews and once you master that move on to something else. The hard part is starting. Once you get going, it gets easier.
Once you do this, plan ahead for grocery shopping and save leftovers that’ll last all week!
2. Read labels
Look for Fair-trade labels, especially on products like coffee, tea and chocolate. These products are often environmentally destructive, but fair-trade certified products follow standards for economically and environmentally fair production.
3. Use the Internet
There are many apps out there dedicated to helping people eat sustainably. One such app is Noshplanet, which lists restaurants and cafés with high sustainability credentials. Another is Locavore, which offers many resources including seasonal recipes, a list of which foods are in season and suggestions on where to buy what you’re looking for.
4. Eat less meat
I’m not saying to become a vegetarian or a vegan at all. I know meat is delicious, but partakers should understand that the production of it, as well as the manure and digestive process of cows accounts for about 18% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
So maybe don’t go without it entirely, but limit yourself to a hamburger or two a week rather than every day, if you’re that kind of person.
5. Drink Tap Water
Invest in a water filter of some sort rather than buying bottled water, because plastic is a huge problem (read: YUGE). Yes, water bottles are recyclable, but if you aren’t the type of person to remember to recycle them, might as well just go without. Besides, it’s a well known fact (and not of the alternative kind) that the water in New York is phenomenal. Just like everything else in this city.
So, go forth, save those moneys, and be sustainable!
