how to (actually) eat more sustainably

In the times we’re living in, one question that’s on all of our minds is this: how can I feel less resigned to the fate of the world? 

Things are undeniably scary. Wildfires are raging, sea levels are rising, air pollution is increasing. Climate injustice is looming, and in spite of our protests, we feel like things aren’t changing.

But you don’t have to feel so hopeless and helpless. Although they may seem trivial, individual actions can make a difference — but they should be informed, too. So what can you do? 

1. Realize perfection is impossible.

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We live in an age of Instagram-perfect zero wasters, all-or-nothing vegans, and a world that otherwise pushes us to achieve unattainable success levels all of the time. Our work effort is admirable, but it’s resulting in way too much burnout.

Don’t let your altruistic efforts to make the world a better place become so all-consuming that you give up before you even start. Acknowledge that baby steps are important and far from trivial. Every single little thing you do, you should celebrate — instead of beating yourself up for failing your goal of cutting out red meat, celebrate all the mealtimes that you opted for something else instead. 

2. Challenge the notion that ‘sustainable eating’ looks only like cutting out animal products.

As we’re all pretty much aware by 2020, plant-based diets have gained tremendous levels of popularity, and for good reason. Opting for less meat and dairy can be excellent for your health, and it’s certainly better for the environment. For starters, according to UCLA, it reduces our individual water use, carbon emissions, and landfill contributions.

But it’s important to remember that you don’t have to go fully vegetarian or vegan in order to be a good environmentalist. And there are many reasons why you might choose not to be. Personally, I was a die-hard vegetarian for about a year and a half, but over this past summer I switched into a much more flexible diet.

Moreover, encouraging everyone to cut out meat and dairy because it’s “bad for the environment” can be unjust, for numerous reasons, as writer Juliana Yazbeck says here. Meat and dairy aren’t inherently carbon-intensive — capitalist and colonial practices have simply made them so through things like factory farming. Second of all, replacing meat and dairy with mass-produced crops like chickpeas and quinoa, and more have resulted in higher demand, and therefore higher use of unethical labour practices. These jobs are often done by underpaid folks of colour. Finally, meat is culturally intrinsic to many, and asking people to take it out of their diets is asking them to surrender their culture. We cannot care about the planet if we don’t also care about the welfare of its people. 

3. Look for sustainable and ethical products. 

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Like I said above, climate action must have a justice-oriented approach. We must care about the earth and its people. A great way to find climate and ethics-friendly products is to look for the Fairtrade logo: a holistic certification that ensures rigorous labour and environmental standards. Some examples of easy-to-find, Fairtrade-certified products include Equifruit bananas and Camino chocolate.

4. Watch out for greenwashing.

Big companies are catching on that consumers are trying to buy better. But for many, instead of actually tangibly changing their practices, they’re instead only trying to make it look like they’ve done so. This is greenwashing.

You can avoid greenwashing by doing your research. Look up the company: do they have reports on their sustainability practices? What about third-party certifications (like Fairtrade)? You can also check out other sustainability bloggers and influencers, many of whom do product reviews and resource lists of actually-eco stuff.

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✨ “Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. “ a snippet from Still I Rise by Dr. Maya Angelou. Growing up, my mom always talked about Dr. Maya’s poetry and this poem has really stuck with me throughout the years. I’ll always remember my moms smile and how her face lights up when she talk about the two times she met Dr. Angelou. Now that I’m older and as I re-read her poetry as an adult, I understand my mom’s smile when thinking about Dr. Angelou’s writings – her words encompass the Black experience so beautifully and inspire me to continue to rise and keep going, confidently. What poems, writers and authors have left a lasting impact on your life? 📷 @jamestheodore for @christydawn #intersectionalenvironmentalist #intersectionality #poetry #mayaangelou

A post shared by Leah Thomas (@greengirlleah) on Sep 26, 2020 at 1:21pm PDT

Leah Thomas is one of my favourite eco influencers on Instagram.

I hope this article has been a helpful introduction into sustainable eating and shopping! Stay tuned for more great resources like this one — be sure to follow my blog so you’ll be the first to know when they’re posted.

Talk soon,

Aspen