How Eating Healthy And Locally Helps The Planet

Why does eating healthy and locally help the planet?

There are many reasons why, but first let's break this into subtopics.

1. Eating Homemade

Eating more homemade is a huge factor in helping our planet. For one thing, it's healthier for you and you can control what you put in or how you prepare your meals. For another, you can control where the food supply came from, and you can make it more sustainable by using sustainable ingredients and buying more organic, local produce from places such as a farmer's market. You can also control the amount of meat and gelatin you might come in contact with/eat.

Another reason why is because you're using less materials. When you buy from a restaurant or a bar or any public place where you get prepared foods, you often might use something like a straw or sometimes a plastic cup. And when you pack your leftovers sometimes in the intention to not waste food, you're still using other materials for the packaging and might, without realizing it, be wasting other things. But when you eat homemade, a lot of times you wouldn't be using single - use materials such as plastic cups and disposable plates (especially from cafes and/or food trucks). You probably would be using a reusable and durable plate and cup and utensils made from materials such as wood, steel, ceramics, etc. You wouldn't need to package anything with disposable materials, and you have more control, so you can compost your food or do some other kitchen techniques to lower that level in your trash bin.

Yet another reason is that you can grow your own fruits and veggies. A lot of people who take the time to cook might grow a small garden in their backyard. It doesn't have to be big: it could just be a cluster of tomatoes and potatoes or onions and radishes and some peppers: it's based on what you use in your cooking and your sense of taste. A garden could mean less carbon emitted into the air from trucks and planes importing the items you need. A garden is also a sense of pride when you taste your homegrown veggies and fruits in your homemade dishes and when you show it off to your friends.

You see, homemade and homegrown foods are not only about healthy eating and improving your diet: it also means clean eating and helping our planet. And I'm not saying to never go out and eat because sometimes you just need a break: but it's to try to make time to resort to cooking and maybe even growing your own food more and even if you are going out, try to choose less meat options and more sustainably sourced meals that are 'just the right amount' for you on the menu.

2. Less Packaged Treats, More Local (And Organic!) Sweets

Finding it hard to resist those perfect - looking brown butter cookies in that neat little package at the grocery store? Or the magnificent ice pops in the box in the store's fridge? Or those super - HOT spicy chips even after buying a load of stuff already?

If you are one of those people, that's okay. Barely anyone with a moderate amount of money can buy their weekly grocery with only things they needed and not that extra package of assorted cupcakes or barbeque chicken nuggets. It's only natural to want these beautifully delicious and scrumptious treats. Even I can almost never resist that nice box of cream - filled pops or flavorful, soft, buttery and crunchy biscuits.

But when it comes to health and the environment, you have to look at it differently.

And that doesn't mean buying nothing you want -- people have to enjoy things in life, right?

First, when you think about sweet stuff; let's just say your eyes are staring and your mouth is watering at a gourmet cookie assortment, with your absolute FAVORITE flavors. And it's at a gigantic chain supermarket. But wait! Let's rethink this. Is there a local bakery that sells cookies like these nearby? If yes, then that's the better option especially if you don't have that much time to bake these yourself. If no, then go to the farmers' market or bake it yourself. You can always have a guarantee of less chemicals and preservatives in your food and at the same time support small businesses and reduce pollution of miles of traveling to import to big business and brands.

And it's the same for spicy and salty: choose a more local, sustainable, user - friendly and healthy option: it might be more expensive or time - spending, but it helps the environment -- and if you want to improve more, the best option is to set a maximum of three things you want per purchase. Instead, you can buy a package - free fruit or veggie, or multiple, to create your own fruity dessert or veg delight to eat healthy and keep your world clean.

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As you can see, there are many ways eating healthy and locally helps our planet stay green and clean. By reducing how much we buy and buying more in local businesses, cooking at home, and choosing more package - free, sustainable, organic options, we can help our world stay clean and at the same time be healthier, support local businesses and be more creative.