Healthy environments are essential for our well-being. What we eat and drink, how much we waste, and how food is made and delivered to us all affect the environment. When the environment is harmed or altered, it can impact both individual and community health.
Food system drivers, like climate change, economics factors, and government policies, shape how food is grown and shared. The outcomes, such as impacts on public health and the environment, can influence those same drivers. Choosing sustainable habits helps break this cycle and supports a healthier future.
Food is a basic need for everyone, but some ways of producing and consuming it can harm the environment, wastewater, and contribute to climate change. The global food system creates about 25 percent of the gases that cause global warming and uses about 70 percent of the world’s fresh water. When communities develop local
sustainable food systems, people have better access to food choices that help fight
climate change and improve health.
Since everyone eats, we’re all part of the food system and the solution. We can support both our health and the environment by adopting more sustainable habits, such as:
Eating more plant-based foods and fewer processed foods
Eating more plant-based foods and fewer animal-based foods is good for both the environment and our health. Plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and seeds use less land and water and create fewer greenhouse gases.
Canada’s Food Guide encourages us to eat more plant-based foods. Choosing more plant-based meals can help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Learn more about why and how to eat more plant-based foods here.
Processed foods, such as soft drinks, candy, baked goods, sweetened cereals, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and packaged snacks, go through many production steps and often require a lot of packaging, increasing their environmental impact. These foods also tend to be high in sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and additives, while offering fewer nutrients. Limiting processed foods and choosing healthy, local, sustainable options helps protect our health and the planet.
Reducing food waste and composting
In 2022, the
National Zero Waste Council found that 63 percent of the food Canadians threw away could have been eaten— costing households at least $1,300 each year. Wasting food also means wasting the water and energy used to grow, produce, transport, and distribute it. When this food ends up in landfills, it creates greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and threaten our health and well-being. To help reduce food waste at home, check out
Love Food Hate Waste for practical tips and recipes.
Composting is a simple, natural way to recycle food scraps like fruit and vegetable peels. It helps reduce waste and lessens our impact on the environment. Many municipalities offer curbside green bin programs and may sell backyard or other composters at a lower cost. Check with your local municipality to see what’s available:
Drinking and conserving tap water
Drinking enough water supports digestion, protects joints and organs, and controls body temperature. In our region, we’re fortunate to have safe, clean, and affordable tap water. For those using aprivate water source like a well, cistern, or treated lake water, regular testing helps ensure it's safe. Choosing tap water over bottled is healthy, convenient, and better for the environment. If taste is a concern, simple at-home filters can help. Check out these tips from Canada’s Food Guide to help make water your drink of choice.
Every household plays an important part in using water wisely to support a sustainable food system and protect our environment for future generations. To help you save water and make the most of this valuable resource, check out water conservation tips from the municipalities of Barrie, Orillia, and The District of Muskoka.
Explore More Resources
For further reading and practical guides, check out these trusted sources:
