Today I’ve got a guest author digging deep into the field of eco-friendly eating. Help me welcome Laura to the Forks family! I met Laura online via the squares of Instagram and her feed @reducereuserenew and we share so many of the same values. You know I am a local food lover, and never miss a chance to talk about my three keys to eating local all year long:
Grow Your Own, Know Your Farmers, Preserve Local Food.

But this doesn’t mean eating all plants all the time for me- but making smart choices. So, when I asked her to share her take on “Eco Friendly Eating” she went for it.  

This one is worth the read- plus I link back to some of my earlier posts that touch on other aspects of the topics she covers. This article is like a little overview of steps we can take and choices to make that will create a difference for us and future generations- I dare you to choose just one of these changes and stick with it!

So, take it away Laura…

Starting Space

You’ve likely heard of the climate crisis. Scientists have been warning us of what could happen if we don’t make major changes for decades. Unfortunately, the effects of the climate crisis reach many different areas of our lives. The food we eat is no exception. 

But how exactly does the food we eat impact climate change? And what can we do? 

Let’s take a look at the answers to both of those questions. 

Bite Size Pieces

Did you know that 26% of all global emissions are food production-related (source)? That’s a pretty significant chunk. That 26% can be broken down into different sectors which include: supply chain, agriculture, land use, and livestock/fisheries, some of which I’ll touch on in this post. 

Whenever we talk about the climate crisis, it can get overwhelming pretty quickly. But the good news is that there are steps we can take to lessen our emissions, and also extend that knowledge into our local communities.  

This post isn’t made to make you feel guilty; the goal is to raise awareness, and identify some tips that you can implement in your own life. 

Before I get too ahead of myself, it’s important to note this: this topic is complex (like many are), and there are no clear-cut answers. We all may have our own opinions about what is best, but we can’t force those onto others. We all come to the “sustainability table” (as I call it) with different access to resources and other factors. Shaming doesn’t have a place here.

We need as many people as possible making all the changes they can, and judging and shaming only turns people away. The climate crisis is linked with so many other issues like social inequality, environmental injustice, and racial justice (and more). What works for one person may not work for another. But, we can’t start to make changes without being aware, and that’s what the purpose of this post is!

The Standard American Diet (SAD)

The “SAD” diet is usually associated with a lot of packaged and processed foods. It is the, well, “standard” diet in American culture, and one that is causing a whole host of problems. It’s not only unhealthy for us, but it’s also not great in terms of the climate crisis. 

Here are just some high-level ways the SAD diet contributes to the climate crisis: 

• Factory emissions from food production and processing
• Resources that are mined and extracted for packaging use
• Excess packaging that ends up in the landfill
• Emissions and resources used for recycling and packaging that is recyclable 

Remember how I said this issue was complex? 

It’s easy for some of us to say something like:

“Just make your own food from scratch.”

“Just start a garden and grow everything”

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy for everyone.

Approximately 20 million people live in a food desert, which is categorized as an area that doesn’t have access to affordable and healthy food and fresh produce. Food deserts could be an entire post on its own, so if you’re interested in learning more, this website has some great information. 

Other barriers to access include the cost of fresh produce, time, mental health, mobility, transportation, and more. 

Conventional Farming Practices 

Whenever the topics of food and climate change come up, immediately a solution of “go vegan or plant-based” is suggested. But human beings have been eating meat for a really, really long time using sustainable farming and hunting practices. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case today, as much of our meat and dairy come from factory farms, which are huge contributors to the climate crisis. Additionally, conventional farming practices are depleting the nutrients and quality of our soil, which is a huge problem for the next generations. 

If you’re interested in learning more about this issue, I would highly recommend the book Kiss the Ground, which talks about regenerative agriculture and returning to practices the Indigenous people shared. 

Food Miles

Did you know the average meal travels 1500 miles from farm to table? That’s a lot of resources that not only go into growing, harvesting, and storing the food, but also transportation (often imported or exported from different countries). All of which releases a lot of emissions (especially CO2) that contribute to climate change. 

According to one source, “it is estimated that we currently put almost 10 kcal/kg of fossil fuel energy into our food system for every 1 kcal/kg of energy we get as food”. 
Local Food For Thought
100 Mile Meals

Food Waste

My family and I completed a zero waste challenge (through Hennepin County, if anyone is interested) four years ago. We discovered that 75% of our trash was food waste. I was SHOCKED. But, I shouldn’t have been. 

40% of all food in the US is wasted. Much of that includes food waste from restaurants and grocery stores, but I know my family and I aren’t alone in the amount of food we throw away (or did). A common misconception (and one that I held) is that when you throw food in the trash, it will simply “break down” in the landfill. 

And while that is sort of true, the full story is not as simple. 

When food gets to a landfill, it lacks the nutrients needed to break down like it would in a compost pile. The most important nutrient that is lacking is oxygen. So, instead of composting, it sloooooowly breaks down. While doing so, the food releases methane which is a greenhouse gas that is 3x more potent than carbon dioxide. 

So, what can we do?

Solutions

Grow Your Own Food

Of course, if you can, growing your own food is a great way to reduce the number of food miles, food packaging, and all the resources and emissions that come from the food we buy. Even if you don’t have the space, time, or mental space to have a large garden, even just growing a couple of things can make a difference. 
Modern Victory Gardens

Support small, local farms and farmers

Another way to keep food miles, packaging, resources, and emissions down is to shop local. A farmer’s market is a great way to learn about farms in your area, and the great thing is that you can talk to the farmer about their growing practices and other topics important to you. Many farmer’s markets now are not only selling fresh produce, but some vendors sell meat, cheese, bread, jams, honey, and more. 
Secrets to Shopping Success at Farmers Markets
White Bear Lake Winter Farmers Market

If you already know of farms in your area, consider checking to see if they offer a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program or sell their items in another way. Some farms even offer trade programs where you can volunteer in exchange for food. 

CSA’s So Many Ways

Compost

Cut back on the amount of food that sits in a landfill by composting. There are TONS of different options out there these days, and my best advice is to find one that works for you and your family. 
Forks in the Dirt Composting Article
Forks in the Dirt Vermicomposting Article

Not able to compost? There is a great app called ShareWaste that connects people with compost materials to others with a way to compost them.  

Reduce Meat/Dairy Consumption

The fact of the matter is, most Americans don’t eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables. Many of us could stand to reduce the amount of dairy and meat that we eat as well. I’m not saying that you need to go full plant-based or vegan, but switching one or two meals a week to meatless and dairyless can help us in terms of our physical health, our wallets, and the planet. 
Tips for Getting Your Family to Eat More Veggies

Get involved with your community!

I’m saving my favorite for last, and that is to get involved with your community. There are SO many ways you can do this, but here are a few:

• Start a seed library and share seeds with your neighbors
• Grow extra seedlings and share them with your community
• Offer to mentor a new gardener
• Share tools and gardening supplies with others
• Host a plant giveaway or sale
• Start a community garden
• Contact local officials about any anti-garden laws or regulations in your city 
• Contact local officials or your waste hauler and ask for curbside organics recycling pickup
• Talk with friends, family, and neighbors about these topics to help spread awareness

Bringing It All Together

The food we eat contributes to the climate crisis in several ways, however, there are also a lot of solutions to the problems. It is truly my belief that if we start to make some of these incremental changes in our lives, and work together with our local community to do the same, we can truly make a difference. 

THANK YOU LAURA!
I loved finding out about ShareWaste- and was reminded that dairy takes a lot of energy to create too. So friends, how will you Dig In to Eco Friendly Eating?
– Michelle

Guest Author Bio: Laura Durenberger is the founder and creator of the blog Reduce, Reuse, Renew, which acts as a guide to help you live with less, in a sustainable way. She is also the creator and host behind the podcast Raising Eco Minimalists, a podcast that acts as a resource and community for those raising kids who care about their mind, body, community, and planet. Laura lives in Minnesota with her husband, son, and three cats. She is an avid home gardener, with a passion for providing seeds, materials, and education for anyone who wants to grow their own food. Aside from gardening, Laura can be found hiking, biking, paddling, camping, volunteering in her local community, and spending time with family and friends. She is an avid mental health advocate, often sharing her own journey through anxiety and depression. Finally, she believes that building and connecting with local community is the key to solving a lot of the big issues we (and our kids) face today.