Sustainable food choices might be the last thing on your mind when making your family hot brown sandwiches. Ethically-sourced food is a crucial part of dinner. Why is eating sustainable food important? Well, it affects the health of your family, the environment, and the local economy.
What Is Sustainable Food?
Sustainable food is grown and consumed in a way that preserves natural resources and keeps a stable ecosystem. Farmers must keep agriculture, animal welfare, water consumption and land use in mind — the process is very involved. While the environment is often the first thing that comes to mind when discussing sustainable food, there are other factors as well. The climate and social systems also affect if food is sustainable.
How Does Food Become Sustainable?
Food has to be grown or appropriately harvested to be considered sustainable. For example, lobstermen in Maine source lobsters sustainably because they must release female lobsters with eggs by law. The lobster mothers go on to have their children, replenishing the lobster population that harvesters and consumers rely on. Mindful consumption from the environment benefits everyone down the line.
Where Can You Find Sustainable Food?
Sustainable food is grown and sold right here in Louisville all the time. Farmers organize with the community to sell their produce directly. Some organizations offer sustainable alternatives for food other than produce. It is also possible for you to make food on your own.
Grab your kids and make a day of finding sustainable options for dinner:
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- Farmers markets: These markets are outdoor stalls that sell produce and other handmade goods. There are over 20 farmers markets in Louisville and nearly 170 in the state of Kentucky.
- Fresh stop markets: You can buy fresh produce directly from farmers for two weeks in summer and fall. This market gives you a chance to meet the people that grow your food.
- Food banks: Food banks offer donated and nutritious food to those in need. The donations make food banks a sustainable process.
- Your garden: Grow your own food in your backyard or apartment for a personal, sustainable stash of produce.
- Community agriculture: Farmers work with the community to sell produce. These programs typically work like a subscription service.
- Outside: Food literally grows on trees! You may be able to find sustainable food outdoors. Search for local resources or take a walk to find fruit trees or bushes.
Markets are a great opportunity to shop around and engage with your community. You’ll see plenty of your neighbors and meet new, friendly faces. Community outreach programs are helpful if you’re looking for inexpensive options. Growing your food yourself ensures it’ll be wholly sustainable — and you can be proud of your green thumb!
Take your kids on a walk for fallen fruit, or have them pick out produce at the farmers market if you want to make sustainability fun. You can shop sustainably at one of these places or choose to grow your own food. Either way, there are plenty of options in the Kentuckiana area for sustainable eating.
Does Eating Sustainable Affect Your Family?
The food you eat affects you and your family. Sustainable practices are central to a child’s development and health. Teach your child that food is connected to their health and the environment by modeling sustainable behavior when it comes to grocery shopping and cooking. Choose options that you know are correctly sourced.
Being involved in sustainable eating also affects your family’s connection to the neighborhood. Shopping for food from local farmers will help your community thrive. If you take your kid to community gardens, green events, or farmers markets will give them a chance to interact with people from their neighborhood.
Can Food Be More Sustainable?
Food that is caught, raised or grown sustainably is a good start, but improvement is always possible. While the food itself is sustainable, you can change where or how you get it — make the entire process green. For example, you could contact your child’s school and encourage them to source school lunches locally. Local food systems boost the economy and you’ll feel better about what your kid is eating at school.
Think about what happens to food after you bring it home. Even if you get produce from a local farmer, your food still has a chance to be more sustainable. How you get rid of your food matters. Try composting old food — compost makes an excellent fertilizer for growing your produce. You could also donate any food you no longer want to your local food bank. You’ll save food and help people in need.
Feed Your Family Sustainably
Try different things to feed your family sustainably. Drive around Louisville to find food markets or search for community-led programs in your area. You can control what food gets put on your family’s plates.
