If you are taking a step towards the protection of your planet, you cannot ignore the impact of foods on your plate. One might think how do foods increase the carbon footprint? However, research says that on average scale foods are responsible for approximately one-third of emissions of greenhouse gases (pollutants). Therefore you need more eco-friendly foods to lower the environmental impact.
Actually, eco-friendly foods are healthier and less harsh on the planet. So we need to switch our usual eating habits to nature-friendly foods and stock them up in our greener pantry to protect the environment. These foods give positivity to nature and can fulfil your dietary requirements as well. Moreover, the agriculture sector has to be sustainable so there should be enough production of organic foods that can save the planet. Read on to find out which food is eco-friendly to make your pantry greener.
What Are Eco-Friendly Foods?
Ecological friendly are those stuff that have a positive and subtle effect on the environment. The foods that contribute to the safety of our planet are worthy to be called eco-friendly foods. Herein, eco-friendly foods do not totally mean that they have to be organic or come from the plant’s origin. Instead, they are the ones that give support to humans in terms of health/longevity and the planet in terms of protection from pollution or other hazards. For example, the foods from a farm nourish humans while safeguarding the environment from pesticides and chemicals.
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How To Make Your Pantry Greener?
The word green is not for stuffing food items into your pantry that are green in colour. However, a greener pantry symbolises the foods that are nature-loving and can protect this ecosystem in a long way. You can help the planet by making your pantry filled with organic eco-friendly food items. So how to do it? This can be either sustainable food choices or other forms like reducing waste. A good pantry item can be compostable sandwich bags.
You can make an eco-friendly pantry by:
- Meal planning
- Using reusable bags
- Buying from bulk bins
- Preferring local produce
- Enjoying seasonal growth
- Reducing single-use wraps
- Investing in an indoor garden
- Converting food scraps into compost
Eco-Friendly Foods To Save The Environment
Foods can protect soil if it is farmed in places where natural fertilizers are used. Such staples can stabilize human health by giving them more nutrients. World Wildlife Foundation spotted that 50 foods are more environmentally friendly, then created their list in 2019. These foods were in demand for a sustainable future. These foods were not totally plant-based. Some come from animals as well. Hence, a study discovered that meat-free foods are not closer to being eco-friendly but regional foods are much healthier to defy the harmful environmental impacts.
You can get eco-friendly pantry products from the Welcome Home eco store!
Top 15 Planet-Friendly Foods
Drinks like vitamin teas are also planet-saving but here you go with the 15 eco-friendly foods.
1) Organic Tomatoes
These small plump are nutritious with potassium, and vitamin C and have colours like red, yellow, orange and purple. Also, their cultivation is without harmful chemicals and pesticides so they are more delicious than traditional ones. They are sustainable in the sense that they grow well in low water content. Moreover, organic tomatoes can benefit the environment because of grown with regenerative techniques.
2) Sweet Potatoes
They come under vegetables with polysaccharides, vitamin A, manganese and dietary fibres. They can either be white (starchy), purple or orange. Also, have a shallow carbon footprint because the farmers use compost as fertilizers with crop rotation on the same soil. This soil is without chemicals and hence more fertile to preserve the quality of nutrients. They play a major role in the preservation of the biodiversity that is necessary for the sustained future.
3) Mushrooms
This is an eatable fungus with some having meaty flavor but some species can be poisonous. They are mostly used in cooking to impart flavour and texture. Particularly, mushrooms have low caloric count and have antioxidants that carry medicinal effects. The amazing fact is that they can be grown indoors via organic waste and controlled conditions. This gives a lot of sustainability to the natural ecosystem.
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4) Seaweed
It is more of a marine algae but a food staple in Asia with a consumption rate of 75 to 85 %. It has a rich nutritional value for containing iodine, calcium and vitamins. Also, its cultivation can fulfil the food demands but it is nature-protective. Like when grown it can absorb carbon dioxide making the air more pure and also it purify the water near its habitation. Moreover, it can support the aquatic environment by reducing oceanic acidification.
5) Oats
This breakfast staple mainly whole grains is rich in iron, dietary fibers, proteins and magnesium. It provides strength to the heart muscles, can aid in digestion and is a good choice for weight management. Due to some good reasons, its production in 2023 is expected to be 25.13 million metric tons. Research on it states they are a good replacement for most foods (animal sources) because of their lower impact on the environment.
6) Mixed Berries
Berries are named for antioxidants. Rather than eating one of a kind, try mixing all of the available variety. Berries are the toughest available foods because of the lower possibility of food spoilage preventing economic loss. This makes them a sustainable option. Also, it has vitamins and minerals packed in it. The anti-inflammatory properties in it can protect the immune system and skin health. This is mostly produced by natural farming which leads to the resilience of the ecological system.
Try vegan strawberries and cream gummies!
7) Upcycled Foods
The wastage of food can cost a lot to the environment and humans. Science is providing awareness of environmental protection and the impact of food waste on it. Greenhouse gases are increasing due to food loss. Therefore, there is an increasing trend to use leftovers to make a new meal that’s called Upcycled foods. These foods are eco-friendly and have more nutrition than regular ones, e.g. in muffins use of sunflower flour instead of wheat flour makes them more proteinaceous. Also, fruit peels can be used in environmental friendly packaging.
8) Pulses (Any Kind)
All pulses are sustainable. It has the purest available protein in it along with other nutrients. Also, it is a vegan-friendly food. The focus on the growth of the organic pulses is highly beneficial for soil fertility with minimal tillage. This totally rots out soil erosion to sustain biodiversity. Plus, these can be irrigated efficiently in rain water which rules out the traditional irrigation practices. You can have pulses as eco-friendly foods to make your pantry organic.
9) Carrots
It is a common vegetable with bright colors orange, white and yellow which is mostly the beauty of the salads and dressing. Most of the time, you can eat it raw which reserves the cooking and energy resources. It is also climate-friendly due to less carbon emissions. On average it was found that carrots contain fewer residues of pesticides than other vegetables. The success of growth in organic carrots is seen as a 14.5 % yield rate. Also, organic carrots are more eco-friendly and can mitigate the environmental hazards.
10) Kale
It is a green leafy vegetable that is similar to the cabbage and broccoli. The nutritional profile of organic kale is expanded with the availability of different vitamins like A, K, C, and minerals like magnesium and calcium. The growth requirements of kale are economic in the sense they are less watered land needed. However, yields can be increased by dense plantations. Overall, it saves the planet by lowering pollutants and protecting useful insects.
11) Avocados
This fancy fruit is part of cuisines. Avocadoes are highly rich in plant proteins and magnesium. Also, their water footprint is smaller as compared to the meaty superfoods. Nature-saving techniques for the production of avocadoes may include smart composting. Usually, it has a low growth rate on land but can be grown responsibly in monoculture where it offers no harm to nature. Farms use protected waterways for nurturing avocados to sustain the ecosystem and human health.
12) Apples
Organic apples are a global fruit item, used for cooking, snacking and juicing. Being eco-friendly, it is totally GMO-free food with vitamin C and potassium as nutrients. Apples are easy to grab and have healthy benefits for immunity and the digestive tract. As per research, apple orchards are cultivated with the use of compost (food waste) instead of fertilizers. This ensures nature-friendly agriculture practices for the growth of organic apples.
13) Broccoli
It is a sort of cabbage but is signified by the dark green colour. Vitamin K and antioxidants are the nutrients present in its thick stalk. It is a must-have ingredient in a weight loss diet plan. Broccoli can be grown within the soil pH 6-7, well-drained farming and drip irrigation. Moreover, most of the broccoli production uses mulching, and integrated pest management (IPM) to sustain nature and its components.
14) Blueberries
As we said mixed berries are more eco-friendly foods but blue berries are the special one. They are recognized by their blue colour, and tart taste, and are specifically good for the heart, brain and muscles. Blueberries need less water for planting. Moreover, they are perennial indicating that you don’t have to replant it each year. If grown with sustainable farm practices, it can make the environment healthier while keeping the nutritional pulp for humans to enjoy.
15) Quinoa
It looks like a cereal but is really not the one. Instead it has a pseudo-cereal texture but was originally a seed from the plant Chenopodium quinoa. The good thing is that it is gluten-free and a major part of the Flexitarian diet. It is a versatile food and is easily consumed by individuals with dietary disorders. It is also a sustainable protein choice as being a climate-resilient crop, can survive in drought. This makes quinoa ideal for organic agricultural practices.
Do Eco-Friendly Foods Only Come From Plants?
Well, that’s not true at all. Most sustainable diets are focused on plants but you cannot ignore meat. However, considering plants as the sole source of eco-friendly foods is not a false idea. Plants are considered more economical than animals but it is always not the case. Research also confirms that high plant-based foods like legumes, grains, nuts and seeds are more beneficial to the environment and humans.
Why Eco-Friendly Foods Are Good For Humans?
Because they support the planet which in turn helps us live a longer life devoid of getting sick from diseases. Here are a few reasons for it:
- They have more nutrient density.
- It supports sustainable agriculture.
- You can reduce chemical exposure.
- You can prevent antibiotic resistance.
- It can save biodiversity and water conservation.
- Food is free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- It can reduce food contamination and foodborne illnesses.
Can Eco-Friendly Foods Protect Your Planet?
Yes. Eco-friendly choices of eating organic can save the planet by protecting the wildlife, their habitats, forests, water, air, soil and all other ecological systems that maintain life on the planet. Eco-friendly foods protect the planet via:
- Quality air
- Pure aquatics
- Structured soil
- Smooth food chain
- Decreased pollution
- Fewer greenhouse gases
How To Eat Only Good To Take Care Of Planet?
It is very easy. You can just choose the food and drinks that are suitable for nature and your body in the long term. Here are your go-to tips:
- Don’t waste food
- Prefer local foods
- Organic is the best choice
- Start with smaller portions
- Eat more protein from plants
- Make a food rainbow (mix a variety of foods from plants, and animals)
Ending Remarks
Sustainability and eco-friendly foods are somehow complex. It does not mean emptying up the organic section of the grocery store or buying all sorts of organic products maybe plant-based. Absolutely not, eco-friendly stuff applies to all food choices that give nourishment and at the same time contribute to the betterment of the environment.
You can create a sustainable food chain system by supporting the brands that are delivering eco-friendly goods such as Welcome Home eco store. Also, not only switch foods, but you can save the earth and yourself by changing your lifestyle and every possible thing that is low-key hurting the atmosphere and its inhabitants. It can either be playing basketball to stay fit or changing home décor items to take care of your planet. If you are interested in basketball, be sure to check out Basketball News Australia.
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