Welcome to the FINAL WEEK of the
UUCC 30-Day Sustainability Challenge! Click
HERE to access earlier emails.
This week the challenge is all about food and eating. A community organization in Manchester, England came up with an 8-point definition that does a good job of helping us understand the complexity of what it means to eat sustainably.
1)
Eat seasonally and locally. Calculating the environmental impact of our food choices can be complicated but as a general rule eating fruits and vegetables from local producers when they are in season has a lower impact than hothouse-produced items or those shipped in from far away. You can add more seasonal and locally grown items to your diet by shopping at your local farmers' market, investing in a
CSA, or planting your own veggie garden.
2)
Reduce food waste. When we waste food, we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it. And if food goes to the landfill and rots, it produces methane—a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide. Being mindful about what we buy, storing foods properly, and starting a backyard compost pile for our kitchen scraps are ways we can make a difference.
3)
Eat less meat and dairy. Meat and dairy production (depending on their source) can have multiple negative impacts on the environment, including greenhouse gas emissions, animal waste, high water use, and land degradation. If you are not ready to become a vegetarian or vegan, you can still make an impact by reducing the amount of meat and dairy in your diet by adding a few vegetarian meals to your weekly line-up or simply by reducing portion size.
4)
Don't eat at-risk fish species. A number of fish species that we like to eat are at risk because of overfishing. They include bluefin tuna, orange roughy, and wild Atlantic halibut, cod, and salmon. Be sure to know where your fish dinner comes from and make choices that are sustainable.
5)
Buy Fair Trade products when you can. Fair Trade certification means that the grower, farmer, or producer is paid a fair price for their products and has safe working conditions. Environmental protection is also a key element of Fair Trade’s view of sustainability requiring both smallholder farmers and larger producers to comply in key areas. The standards also promote training for farmers, which can include advice on switching to environmentally friendly practices.
6)
Support sustainable farming practices. The USDA defines sustainable agriculture as “the production of plant or animal products using techniques that protect the environment and the welfare of humans and animals.” Getting to know the farmers who produce your food at the farmer's market or through a CSA are ways you can identify and support those engaged in sustainable agriculture.
7)
Choose healthy options. Unprocessed or minimally processed foods that we know are better for our health are often better for the environment too as they take less energy to produce.
8)
Encourage food democracy in your community. Eating sustainably cannot be something that only the affluent can afford to do. All people, regardless of their zip code, have a right to safe, nutritious food that's been justly produced. You can encourage food democracy by supporting groups in the community that are working to build a more equitable and diverse world.
Jerusha Klemperer, the Director of 
Here are some things that you can do this week that can help you eat more sustainably:
