How to Eat For The Planet (And Your Health!)

Life is a beautiful web of interconnectedness. Plants use sunlight for energy to grow, and in turn, we eat plants to nourish our bodies. While we often view food solely as a way to nurture our body, it is intricately tied to the health of our planet. And when it comes to food, our choices have the ability to heal or harm. 

So how do we find a harmonious balance between eating for human health, but also planetary health?

How to eat more sustainably:

1. Incorporate a kaleidoscopic assortment of plant-based whole foods. This means fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts/seeds, tubers and legumes. Choosing plant foods high in antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals can heal both your body and the planet.
2. Minimize or eliminate animal products. For the most part, animal-based foods emit significantly more greenhouse gases (GHG) than plants. Cows contribute to GHG emissions in multiple ways: they need land to roam, feed to eat, and they infamously release methane as a by-product of digestion (i.e. their farts). When you break it down: land use + methane + animal feed + miscellaneous = 60kg greenhouse gas released per kg of beef. Harvesting a comparable mass of apples emits less than 1kg GHG. Not only do apples taste delicious, they also do so much good for your body (hello antioxidant superheroes) and the planet (goodbye pollution). 
3.  Choose carbon neutral food choices. What does this mean? Carbon neutrality is when carbon emissions = carbon absorption, and if you’re already a GEM subscriber, then you’re making carbon neutral food choices daily. Algae wondrously turns CO2, sunlight and water into a richly nutritious, earth-friendly food source packed with macro and micro nutrients, protein, antioxidants, vitamin A, calcium, omega-3s and more. 

What changes have you welcomed into your diet to eat more mindfully for both human and planetary health? Let us know below.