How much CO2 emissions does your lunch cause? How much water is used? How heavily are soils polluted? Don't worry, we don't want to spoil your appetite, but what ends up on our plates every day not only impacts our own well-being - but also the environment and the life chances of your children and the next generations. In this article we explain how you can make your menu more sustainable in the future, even without only eating green-colored things.
What nutrition has to do with environmental protection
Are you wondering why sustainability is such a crucial factor in our diet? Did you know that the food industry is at the top of the list of the biggest climate sinners? Over a third of global greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to this, namely around 37%.
This huge number is made up of direct emissions that arise from animal husbandry and the use of agricultural land, indirect emissions, which include the deforestation of (rain) forests for cultivation, and emissions caused by transport, processing or cooling Food is released. The foods with a particularly bad carbon footprint include beef, poultry, pork, milk, cheese, etc. Co and highly processed foods and frozen foods.
This will make your diet more sustainable
How we handle food is very important for our environment. Anyone who pays attention to a sustainable diet relies on a respectful and appreciative use of our resources - and not only thinks about their own long-term health, but also about future generations. The levers you can use here are:
- Food selection and conscious purchasing
- More plant-based and less animal-based foods on your plate
- Production conditions – pay attention to certified organic food
- Transport – regional is usually better – avoid products from distant countries
- Storage – good storage prevents you from having to throw away spoiled food
- Using leftovers – you can often conjure up something delicious from leftover food
That might sound like a lot of effort at first, but it's not that difficult. We will then show you further concrete examples of how you can change your menu step by step. And the best thing: Not only will you enjoy every meal with a clear conscience in the future - the foods you choose are almost always healthier choices that will benefit your physical and mental fitness.
Reduce your consumption of meat and dairy products
It is not without reason that animal foods are at the top of the list of climate-sinful foods. An incredible amount of resources are used to keep grazing cattle and fattened cattle worldwide and to produce their products (meat, milk, butter, cheese) - and many of the animals themselves also release greenhouse gases in the form of methane. Don't worry, you don't necessarily have to switch to a vegan diet right away: with just two or three plant-based days a week, you're making an important contribution to sustainability. When buying meat and dairy products, also look for an organic seal of quality and regionality and perhaps also consider vegan alternative products from time to time.
Avoid heavily processed foods
As already described, the processing of food sometimes uses a lot of resources. Using frozen fries as an example, this includes peeling, cutting, pre-cooking and freezing. In particular, products with a lot of additives, such as sweeteners, colors or preservatives, do not perform well either in terms of the climate balance or in terms of high-quality nutrients. It is therefore better to rely on fresh vegetables, fruits and foods where the list of ingredients is slim and clearly understandable.
Pay attention to regional, seasonal, organic and fair
Freshly harvested fruit and vegetables have the highest nutritional content and, if they come from your region, also the shortest transport route. Regionality and seasonality are particularly good prerequisites for your sustainable menu. However, the organic quality of the food is at least as important: This guarantees that resources are used carefully during cultivation and production. No environmentally harmful fertilizers or feed are used and the soil is protected in the long term. If you buy regionally, you also know and see the social conditions under which your food is produced. This means that the next generations of farmers will also benefit from your menu. When it comes to products from other countries, you should always pay attention to fair trade seals of approval.
Leftover utilization
Too much food ends up in the trash. Sadly, food waste is one of the biggest problems surrounding our diet. You can counteract this by only taking the amount you need when shopping and either giving away leftovers or products that are about to expire or using them creatively so that as little as possible ends up in the bin.
Tip: If you still have empty Purora jars at home, you can use leftover fruit and vegetables to make a delicious soup or smoothie, for example.
Avoid unnecessary packaging
Plastic packaging in particular should be a thorn in your side as an environmentally conscious connoisseur. This material requires too many resources and creates far too much unnecessary waste. Shopping at the farmers' market or in an unpackaged store gives you the opportunity to purchase fruit and vegetables in a zero-waste manner and also to fill products such as rice, flour or oatmeal directly into reusable jars.
Conclusion: Many small steps to sustainable enjoyment
Make a conscious decision about your meal plan instead of just buying any food. This also means looking closely, researching and questioning things that you may have previously taken for granted. This includes not only what you eat, but also where the products come from, how they were grown or produced, how they are packaged and how you deal with leftovers.
Are you now really motivated to make your diet more sustainable? Then take a look at our Pinterest , Instagram or Facebook page . There we offer lots of tips about healthy eating, recipe ideas and exciting facts about our products.
