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Healthy Eating
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Food and Nutrition

Food and the Environment

Healthy environments are important for good health. What we eat, how much food we waste and how food is made, processed, and shared has a big impact on our environment and our health. When our environments are damaged or changed, it can harm our health and our communities. 

Food is a basic need for everyone. But some ways of producing and consuming food can harm the environment and contribute to problems like climate change. However, food can be an important part of the solution too. The global food system creates about 25% of the gases that cause global warming and climate change, and uses about 70% of the world’s fresh water. On the other hand, when communities develop local sustainable food systems, people have better access to sustainable food choices that can fight climate change, and improve our health.

Since everyone eats, we are all part of the food system. We can help the environment and our health by choosing to eat in more sustainable ways, like:

  • Eating more plant-based foods and fewer processed foods.
  • Reducing food waste and composting.
  • Drinking tap water.

Eating more nutritious, plant-based foods is good for the environment and your health.

Animal-based proteins, especially red meat, harm the environment. They produce more greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. They also use a lot of resources, like land for animals and water for growing animal feed. Plant-based foods (like vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and seeds) use fewer resources and produce fewer greenhouse gases.

Canada’s Food Guide recommendation eating more plant-based foods. You don't have to stop eating meat, but eating more plants can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Learn more about why and how you can eat more plant-based foods, here. 

Processed foods include soft drinks, candy, baked goods, sweetened breakfast cereals, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and packaged snack foods. Processed foods go through many steps to make them, which increases the amount of energy and resources needed to make them. They often require a lot of packaging, which increases overall waste.

Processed foods and drinks are usually higher in sugar, salt, saturated and hydrogenated fats and additives, and fewer nutrients that our bodies need. Canada’s Food Guide  suggests limiting these foods. 

Choosing healthy, local, sustainable foods is a powerful action you can take to combat climate change.

In 2022, the National Zero Waste Council  found that 63% of the food Canadians threw away could have been eaten. This is like throwing away at least $1,300 per household, per year! Food waste costs you money, and when it goes to the landfill, it creates greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases contribute to climate change, which is a big threat to health and well-being. Throwing food out also means we are wasting the water and energy used to grow, produce, transport, and distribute the food, which hurts our environment.

Check out Love Food Hate Waste  for practical tips and recipes to help reduce food waste.

Composting is nature’s way of recycling our food scraps and fruit and vegetable peels, It’s another important way to reduce our impact on the environment. Check with your city or town’s website to learn about your area’s curbside compost (green-bin) program, and to see if they sell backyard, or other, composters at lower cost.

Local Resource Info:

Drinking enough water is important for our health. Water helps move nutrients through our body and is good for digestive, joint and heart health. In our region, we are fortunate to have high-quality tap water that is safe, clean and affordable. Drinking tap water is a healthy, convenient, and environmentally friendly choice. Instead of reaching for a plastic water bottle, simply turn on the tap to quench your thirst. If you notice an unpleasant taste, basic at home water filters can help.

Check out these tips from Canada’s Food Guide to help you drink more water every day.

External Links
The EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Plant, Health
ClimaHealth
Food Matters Action Kit

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