Eat to Save the Planet

Picture this: It’s 5 p.m. and your stomach is growling. Your dad asks what you want for dinner: his famous pasta with pesto or a juicy burger? They’re both yummy, so it’s a tough choice. Maybe this will help influence your decision: One of these meals is better for the planet—can you guess which one?

If you’re thinking it’s the pasta, you’re right. Choosing meat-free meals helps save water, conserve forests, and combat climate change. But eating with the planet in mind means more than slurping your way through a bowl of spaghetti each night (and it doesn’t mean you can never have a burger again). It’s all about making informed choices and minimizing waste. Read on to learn simple—and delicious—rules to make sure what’s on your plate doesn’t just taste good but is also good for Earth.

Your parents aren’t the only ones who want you to eat your veggies—many environmentalists do too. Why? Eating mostly plants is the best way to cut greenhouse gas emissions from food production, a problem that contributes to climate change.

You might think of packaging simply as the thing standing between you and your first bite of your lunch, but it can have a huge impact on the planet. Your sandwich might come wrapped in aluminum foil and be placed in a plastic clamshell container—then handed to you in a plastic bag with plastic cutlery. The sandwich goes into your stomach, and the rest goes . . . where? Sadly, only 9 percent of plastic produced globally is recycled, which means a lot ends up polluting our environment. It also takes resources and energy to produce all that packaging, so that single sandwich can do a lot of harm to the environment.

The good news is, by planning ahead and making smart choices, you can cut way down on the amount of packaging you use, so you can enjoy your lunch—without the side of guilt. Here’s how:

1. BRING YOUR OWN REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE AND BAG WHEN YOU GO OUT WITH FRIENDS. This way, you won’t need to buy a plastic water bottle if you’re thirsty or use a plastic bag if you buy something. (When you’re at the register, let the cashier know that you don’t need a bag.)

2. MAKE YOUR OWN SNACK “BAGGIES.” Single-serving packages of snacks (like popcorn or cookies) lead to extra waste. Ask your parents to buy in bulk instead. Then take a few minutes to prepare your own snacks by dividing portions among small reusable containers.

3. CHOOSE PACKAGE-FREE WHENEVER POSSIBLE. If you have the choice between a whole apple or a bag of apple slices, go for the plastic-free option.

Picture a football stadium filled with half-eaten bananas, slightly stale bread, and jugs of almostexpired milk. That’s how much food Americans toss each day, or 30 million tons a year. Not only does it waste energy to produce all this unused food, but it also taxes the planet to get rid of it: Food takes up more space in landfills than any other type of trash.

But simply asking yourself “Am I going to eat all of this?” before you buy or make yourself a meal can go a long way. Here are more ideas to prevent waste:

1. FREEZE YOUR LEFTOVERS. Baked too many cupcakes with friends? If the treats are at risk of going bad, store extras in the freezer instead of the fridge. Freezing prevents the growth of microorganisms that can lead to spoilage and cause food poisoning.

2. SCOOP SMALL. Whether you’re serving yourself food at home or at a buffet-style restaurant, take smaller portions to avoid tossing leftovers. You can always go back for more.

3. LEARN TO LOVE “UGLY” PRODUCE. Don’t toss that bruised apple or slightly overripe banana! It’s still good to eat. Instead, add it to a smoothie or slice off just the section of the fruit that’s gone brown.