8 Tips to Help our Planet
Today is Earth day, a day that was originally created in1970 to help support environmental protection. Since 1970, our population has more than doubled putting a huge strain on our natural resources. We have to come together to help save your planet, because all our efforts can help make a difference!
In honour of our beautiful planet and a day dedicated to it, I thought I would share 8 things we can all do that can help make a difference. I am by no means saying these are the only things that can or need to be done, but perhaps this blog will inspire you to make some changes and spread the word.
1. Reduce food waste within your own home. In Canada we have a HUGE food waste problem, so huge that it has been deemed as a 31 billion dollar problem, with the average household wasting approximately $28 of food each week.
How can you reduce food waste within your home? One of the simplest ways is to plan your weekly meals. Whenever I am working with clients and families, I am always suggesting and helping them plan their meals. This can make all the difference in reducing the amount of food that gets thrown out. I recently wrote an article for Canfitpro Newsletter last fall where I shared 5 tips to help you reduce food waste. Have a read here!
2. Eat less meat and plan for meatless meals each week. Meat is over consumed in North America, there is no doubt about that.
Our amazon forest is slowly being destroyed to help feed cattle and livestock. I always like to use this comparison, the average male cow weighs over 2000 pounds, where the average male Canadian weighs 177 lbs, meaning that the cow needs to eat and drink WAY more food and water than we do, which ultimately means the use of many more resources to feed this cow. I am not suggesting that we stop eating meat entirely (I personally still eat meat) but we can all make a difference by eating a lot less and helping conserve our resources. Besides the environmental benefits, there are tons of health benefits as well, but I won't get into that today!
If you want to learn more about planning healthy and tasty vegetarian meals for your family, join my next workshop on May 15th all about vegetarian cooking. Click here to get your ticket and save your spot!
3. Reduce the heating in your home and layer up (this is something we personally have done in our home for the last few years). If all our homes were slightly cooler in the winter months and slightly warmer in the summer months, we could make a difference in the amount of energy consumed and conserved.
4. Use reusable containers (glass being the preferred type). We need to start using less single use items, single use coffee cups, single use containers, etc. Why? Because they all end up in the garbage and in our oceans.
Try this: if you buy coffee or tea each day, bring your own reusable mug or mason jar to get filled up instead. That's one less used disposable cup and plastic lid every day!
5. Try to buy more local foods. The more local food we eat, the less energy being wasted on transportation. There are also many other health and nutrition benefits associated with eating local. I personally am a CSA member, which means I invest in a local farm and recieve local produce in return, this is only one way that you can shop more local. If you have any questions about CSA memberships or where to get more local foods, connect with me.
Foodland Ontario also has a great availability guide, that outlines which fruits and veggies are in season and available in Ontario during each month. Click here to learn more.
6. Take reusable cloth bags shopping with you to help reduce the amount of plastic used and ending up in our trash and oceans.
7. Give away used or old clothing, there are people who would reuse your clothes and benefit from them as well. It also leaves a lot less for the trash!
8. Buy less. We live in a world of overconsumption (and I can't say I am perfect, but I am trying). Ask yourself do you really need that item? Try to make meaningful purchases instead of accumulating more things. Our planet will thank you!
Let me know what you do to help our planet, I always love hearing from you....and remember we CAN make a difference!
Until next time,
Eat Right Feel Right - Angela XO
