>
Small Dietary Changes Can Lead to Big Environmental Benefits
Making Small Changes to Your Diet Can Have a Big Impact on the Environment
People might think that eating more sustainably requires drastic changes, such as shifting to a vegan diet. However, new research shows that even modest changes to our diets can lead to significant environmental benefits.
A Shift to Medium-Impact Foods Can Lead to a 62% Reduction in Environmental Impact
The study, published in the journal Nature Food, looked at the environmental impact of eight common food items: bread, cereal, milk, yogurt, cheese, chicken, beef, and pork. The researchers found that shifting to medium-impact foods for all eight items, such as a muffin, yogurt, and sliced meat, can lead to at least a 62% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and land use.
Even Small Changes Can Make a Difference
The researchers also found that even small changes to our diets can make a difference. For example, switching from beef to chicken can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22%, while switching from milk to yogurt can reduce water use by 30%.
Making Sustainable Dietary Choices
These findings suggest that we can make a big difference for the environment by making small changes to our diets. Here are a few tips for making sustainable dietary choices:
- Choose plant-based foods over animal-based foods.
- Reduce your consumption of processed foods.
- Buy local and seasonal foods.
- Compost your food waste.
By making these small changes, we can help reduce the environmental impact of our food choices and create a more sustainable future.