Eat healthier food for you and the planet

Action 2/3: Eat healthier food for you and the planet

Taking action on climate often brings other benefits. That certainly holds true when it comes to the choices we make about food. When you choose foods with a plant slant, favor farmers using regenerative practices, or grow your own food, you’re not only supporting your own health, but the health of the food system, environment, and climate as well.

Choose less meat & better meat

Vegans and vegetarians have diets with the least impact on the environment and climate. On our current path, Earth will warm by 1 degree by 2100 from agricultural emissions alone – with meat and dairy responsible for about 60% of this warming.

But you can still make a difference without completely eliminating meat and dairy – or by making a gradual transition to a plant-based diet.

Start by avoiding industrial meat production. It’s polluting, inhumane for animals (and often workers), and seriously contributes to climate change – not to mention what it does to your health! Look for labels, such as “Certified Grassfed” and “Animal Welfare Approved,” which indicate a more sustainable, humane approach.

If you eat meat, choose types that produce lower emissions such as pork, chicken, or fish. Treat meat as a condiment, not the main dish – and make vegetables the biggest portion on your plate. Also experiment with other ingredients and sources of protein. You may be delighted by both the flavorings and cost savings.

Shrink that Footprint: The Carbon Foodprint of 5 Diets Compared

FoodPrint: 6 Ways to Cook with Less Meat (but Better Meat)

Understand food certification labels

When shopping in supermarkets, check labels to learn as much as you can about the food you’re buying. What’s the difference between “Organic,” “Non–GMO,” and “Certified Naturally Grown”? Refer to FoodPrint’s food label guide for clarification and to find which labels are most reliable – they’re not all created equal.

FoodPrint: Food Label Guide

Support local and regenerative farming

It stands to reason that buying locally and seasonally is best for the climate. It means your food travels a shorter distance from farm to fork, reducing transportation emissions. There are other great reasons to know your farmer – whether you frequent farmers markets or buy a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box.

For example, you can learn firsthand whether the produce, dairy product, or meat is organic. Or you can find out if animals are raised on pasture and what they are fed. In addition, some farmers use a wide array of regenerative farming practices – also called carbon farming. These practices not only produce healthier food, but are also healthier for the soil, environment, and climate.

Sonoma County: Petaluma Farmers Markets and Farms

Local Harvest: CSAs near Petaluma

FEED Cooperative

Carbon Cycle Institute: What is Carbon Farming? (AKA Regenerative Agriculture)

Grow your own food

It doesn’t get any more local than this! And you have lots of control to make the soil, food, and yourself as healthy as possible. But the benefits for you go beyond the physical. First, you’ll likely save on your food budget. Plus, research shows that gardening boosts mood as much as exercise! There may be nothing quite as satisfying as getting your hands in soil or walking out to your garden and harvesting a gorgeous ripe tomato or lovely Meyer lemon. But maybe equally satisfying? Sharing extras with your neighbors, friends, or community members in need.

iGrowSonoma: Resources for gardening in Sonoma County

UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County - Food Gardening

Daily Acts: Carbon Gardens: A Dirt Simple Solution to Climate Change

Eat healthier food for you and the planet