- Eat Less Meat and More Plants
- Eat a Variety of Foods
- Eat Locally and in-season
Happy New Year! A new year often means new resolutions, and many of us are thinking about getting healthy or forming new habits. We’ve got an idea that combines both of those: eating more sustainably. Certain kinds of foods have larger environmental impacts than others. Sustainable eating focuses on foods that have lower environmental footprints. As a bonus, research found that key components of sustainable eating like reducing red meat and eating more plant-based foods positively impact one’s health.
While it is recommended that you talk to your doctor before making any major dietary alterations, here are some smaller changes you can make to eat more sustainably in 2025.
Eat Less Meat and More Plants
The negative effects of the meat industry on our climate are a well-documented phenomenon. For example, livestock production accounts for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Beef in particular accounts for 25% of global land use, land-use change and forestry emissions.
Additionally, plant-based foods generally have lower greenhouse gas emissions than other types of food. However, this does not mean cutting out all meat is the best solution. Sustainable meat options exist: non-red meat such as pork or chicken as well as dairy products generally have lower emissions than beef and other red meats. Additionally, entirely plant-based diets are not right for everyone. “Flexitarian” diets, or diets that reduce but do not eliminate meat, balance the environmental effects of food and the nutritional needs of a lot of people.
One way to do this is to eat meat one less day a week. There are plenty of meals, including some of the recipes below, that are healthy and filling without featuring meat. A second option is to use plant-based meat substitutes, like veggie burgers, or plant-based proteins, like tofu. A third way is to include meat but not as the main event. Small amounts of meat can add a lot of flavor to a dish without being the star of the show.
Eat Locally and In-Season
Foods that are local and in-season are associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions. This is because they travel less than foods from further away. Shopping at local farmers’ markets seasonally, like the ones in York and Kittery, is a great way to eat locally and support small businesses. Community Supported Agriculture, also known as CSA’s, are another great seasonal option. CSAs are a program that involves paying a fee upfront to a local farm and then getting a regular share of the farm’s harvest during the growing season. Seacoast Harvest’s guide lists all the CSA’s available in the area. Additionally, many supermarkets, such as Hannaford, label locally grown items so you can check where your food comes from.
There are plenty of sources to help you figure out what foods are in season when, like the chart below from Real Maine. Additionally, this website lists in-season foods by month and even recommends recipes! For example, apples, cabbage, carrots, sweet potatoes, and garlic are all locally available in January.
Eat a Variety of Foods
According to the World Wildlife Fund, 75% of the world’s food supply comes from just twelve plants and five animal species! This lack of variety causes the soil to deteriorate and damages living ecosystems. Diversifying what we eat is important because it reduces stress on the environment and our agricultural systems. Additionally, increasing the kinds of foods we eat increases the kinds of and amounts of nutrients we receive. In 2019 the World Wildlife Fund and Knorr teamed up to create a guide titled, “Future 50 Foods,” which recommends fifty different foods that are healthy and environmentally friendly. While not all of these foods are widely available yet, options like fava beans, okra, red cabbage, and walnuts can commonly be found at local grocery stores.
Recipes
Here are some recipes to help kickstart your sustainable eating journey:
