Happy new year y’all!!! Health and environment are my passion.
Call it a new year’s resolution, or call it my new sustainable food goals for 2017. What is sustainable food? Here’s what I have in mind for me and my family and hopefully yours and UHN’s too…
1. Buy locally grown food – The farmer’s market used to be just around during the summertime but thankfully Toronto is a great city where we have it year-round! Check out the Brickworks (open on Saturdays)! UHN, as a major purchaser of food, hopefully can adopt this too (when possible)..
2. Buy organic – Organic food (aka pesticide-free produce) not only eliminates soil and water contamination but also helps preserve local wildlife and bio-diversity. Yes, yes, organic products may cost more…however, you can be more cost-efficient with this shift. Cut-out the processed junk food, buy what you need so you don’t waste food, all of which leaves room in your budget to buy more organic. Think about it, less junk, less food waste, better health, cost neutral! Future-wise, your body will benefit from the healthier food choices and may save you $$$ for meds and other costs of chronic diseases later on (e.g. type 2 diabetes).
3. Grow vegetables – some people already are doing this during the warmer months. I have resolved to do even more by doing indoor vegetation. I bought myself a new planter that would house some of my year-round veggies!!! This complements my small containers herb collection. It also improves the air exchange in my house during the wintertime when windows are kept closed.
4. Reduce meat consumption – Daily protein requirements are 2 servings (based on the Canadian Food Guide). Meat is the biggest water waster and is associated with greater C02 emissions. I am fortunate that my kids have become vegan/vegetarian. I am not yet there (and probably won’t be) but I have resolved to choose to eat more eco-friendly sources of protein without compromising my dietary needs. Less red meat, more fish and way more sustainable protein sources (e.g. tofu, nuts) like these below.
5. Reduce my cooking time and maximize use of appliances – It will take a lot of meal planning and devoted time for cooking for me but doing the bulk of all cooking in one day will save me lots of time and energy during the rest of the week. I can have 3 or more dishes cooking in the oven at the same time and would just need to re-heat during the week. This will save on energy consumption and food wastes. Best of all, it leaves the guesswork out of the week-night meals.
Now that you’ve heard mine, what are some of yours? Have a healthy 2017 to all!!!
Check out these other links…
We’ve Always Known That Eating Green Was Good for Us…
UHN Gardens Show off their Harvest
Talkin' Trash With UHN 
