Planet-friendly eating is more than meat vs. vegetables

People wanting to make food choices that are better for sustainable agriculture often think in terms of eating less meat and more fruits, nuts, and vegetables. However, the concept of a planet-friendly diet is not as simple as swapping meat-based proteins for vegetable-based ones. There are additional considerations that also come into play such as how the food is grown and how it is transported.

One personal nitpick before I dive into the suggestions in the article: the phrasing here is “planet-friendly” choices, but the planet isn’t at risk. Earth will be here no matter what happens to the climate. We should emphasize limiting (or reversing) damage to ecosystems that support us, rather than discuss a more detached concept like “planet-friendly”. Although that wording is used as a convenient shorthand for climate issues, it dilutes the message.

Now let’s get back to the article. Choosing foods that require less water to grow or harvest, are less processed after harvesting, and can be grown with fewer interventions such as pesticides, can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a huge driver of climate change. Since one-third of greenhouse gases are attributed to the food supply, this is important. Choosing chicken over beef can cut emissions by half, but the savings are even greater for legumes and nuts. But not all plant-based proteins are not the same. Almonds, for instance, require more water than peanuts which contain similar amounts of protein and nutrients.

Some grains are also better than others from an input standpoint. Rice requires massive amounts of water and pesticides compared to other grains. Diversifying the kinds of grains we eat – choosing options like buckwheat or millet in addition to the usual wheat, oats, and corn – is the way to go, according to nutritionist Mary Purdy. More diverse diets encourage growing diverse crops, which results in additional resiliency.

While making informed food choices can make your individual carbon footprint smaller, change needs to happen at a macro level, too. Writing to your representatives at the state and national levels to keep and strengthen environmental protections can also make an impact. Voting with your wallet can also be persuasive. As we can see from recent events, boycotts can have a major impact on a corporation’s bottom line and get attention. s