Since our childhood, we have learned that food provides us with the energy we need to carry our everyday tasks. Protein, carbs, veggies, and fruits are the basis of the food group. In the past decade, humans have been producing and wasting too much food, causing a major health and environmental impact.
Food that we are consuming right now is more detrimental to our health than beneficial. Foods are high in oil, sodium, and sugar, causing diabetes, hypertension, and heart problems. On top of this, several types of food are also damaging to the planet; palm oil, meat, and so on… (we will go in-depth in the article).
Should we re-evaluate our food choices and look for healthier and more beneficial alternatives? This article will look at the worst food for the environment and what changes we can bring to our diet to benefit the planet…
Worst Food For The Planet
Sugar
Yes, it may seem crazy, but sugar is the number one worst food for the environment. Sugar is found everywhere; you may be shocked at how much food you consume every day that you did not know contains sugar.
Sugar plantations are very harmful to biodiversity; there is a need for intense water usage and pesticide, but it is also among the first causes of erosion in different countries.
Chocolate
We are so sorry to put the chocolate down on that list, we know that we are breaking several hearts, but nothing can be done. Theobroma cacao, in another term the chocolate tree, grows only in a certain part of the world, more precisely around the equatorial forests. Like the sugar cane plantation, the chocolate tree needs a lot of water.
In addition, there has been a rise in demand, leading to deforestation around Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Indonesia, affecting the local biodiversity.
Meat
The production of meat has proven to be very noxious to the environment; water usage, deforestation, and methane production are causing much harm to the planet. Unfortunately, the consumption of meat has doubled in the last few years.
If you are looking for a more environmentally friendly way to eat meat, you should favor small farms and not industrial meat.
Palm Oil
Palm oil is found in the majority of the most popular manufactured sweets and a wide range of prepared foods. It is, in fact, the most widely-used oil in the food business, alongside soybean oil. But it is very bad for the environment; deforestation leads to the devastation of several natural habitats, erosion, and emission of greenhouse gases.
How Can Changes In Our Diet Benefit The Planet?
Veganism
We can’t stop eating, we need food to survive, but we can still evaluate the food we are eating. For example, if the planet turns vegan, we can cut the greenhouse emission by half, decreasing the earth’s temperature.
However, it is absurd to think that we can change the whole world into eating vegan, but we can encourage people to eat more salad.
Variety
There are a variety of plants and animals that humans can consume, and it will help the planet if we do not concentrate on a sole type as it will raise the demand, thus resulting in either deforestation or other impact due to overproduction, processing, and manufacturing.
Home Garden
This is quite hard, but growing your vegetables and having a little home farm (I know it won’t be possible for everyone, but it is one of the best options). Some people even do a community garden which allows them to trade vegetables in the neighborhood.
Eat What Is In Season
Rather than buying frozen vegetables, you must support your local farmers. Eat the seasonal veggies; it takes less effort to produce.
Food remains a personal choice. It has its importance in culture, religion, and much more. We cannot dictate people’s food choices, but we can come with better alternatives and inform them about the effects of these foods on the environment. In the comments, let us know what you think about a shift in food consumption for a better planet?