Earth Day 2015: How to eat sustainably?
updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:08
April 22 is Earth Day and an ideal time to start eating sustainably, meaning consuming food items that were grown without harming the planet— think organic.
In celebration of Earth Day this Wednesday 22nd April, let’s start a new diet regime where we eat sustainably. Rather than doing it to shed some weight (though that might be a bonus), do it for the sake of your health and the planet’s. Before you get right into it, let’s get acquainted with the concept first.
What is sustainable eating?
“‘Sustainable’ is a word that gets tossed around a lot,” author and sustainable eating advocate, Anne Lappe, tells Martha Stewart. “I like to say that sustainable agriculture is a production system that’s good for the environment and for people, that’s humane to animals and to food and farm workers, that supports thriving rural and urban communities. In other words, it’s the production of food, fibre, or other plant or animal products using techniques that protect the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare. It’s a way of food production that generates abundance while ensuring future generations can do the same.”
Why do it?
Basically, sustainable eating involves consuming food that is healthy for you and the planet — think organic (plants grown without GMO seeds and chemical fertilizers, and free-range animals bred without hormones or added chemicals). So it’s a win-win situation where you take care of your body and the Earth simultaneously.
Don’t get intimidated before you start because it is entirely feasible and will go a long way. It protects the environment by maintaining soil health, promoting biodiversity, and helping slow down climate change.
Although the down side of it is it’s rather challenging to find locally grown (organic) produce in Singapore, but that shouldn’t stop you from adopting a sustainable diet. There are other alternatives in the city and we have them summarized in our gallery!
Natasha Gan
