EcoChallenge 2013

Sustainable Food Options

[photo: boot pushing shovel into soil]

There are many options to consider when choosing your food. Is it organic? Is it locally produced? Is it in season? Sometimes it is hard to distinguish what is a good choice for you—and the planet. As a consumer, we encourage you to “vote with your dollars” when making food choices,during the EcoChallenge and in the future.

Pick from the list below to create your personal plan to fulfill your EcoChallenge.

For my EcoChallenge action(s), I will:

Purchase most of my produce & fruit from the farmers market
Source food for office meetings and events from local producers
Visit a nearby farm, learn about what they produce and pick my own fruits and veggies or join a CSA
Purchase 90% of my food from locally produced and/or organic sources
Try out the 100 Mile Diet and eat only food that has been raised and cultivated within a hundred mile radius of where I live.
Try cooking 5 new recipes that feature organic and/or local ingredients
Choose sustainable seafood options every time I eat fish during the EcoChallenge
Limit my meat eating to twice per week (if I eat meat) or try Meatless Monday
Try something new with food, such as canning, drying, or jamming local foods or baking bread
Cut back food waste: Plan your household menu and find creative uses. Look here for tips.
Participate in planting and growing food-- either in my own or a friend’s garden or at a community garden
Plant an herb windowsill or herbs in pots if the garden’s not an option
When eating out, ask where the restaurant sources their ingredients--choose and encourage local and organic options
Get involved in food legislation and share my opinion with my elected representatives
Research and become involved in a local group/campaign such as a community food council or effort to provide sustainable food in school cafeterias
Organize one of NWEI’s discussion course such as Menu For The Future or Hungry for Change: Food, Ethics and Sustainability and invite friends, neighbors or coworkers to join a new discussion group
Watch a documentary film about food with friends and get them involved in sustainable eating (some suggestions include: Food Inc., The Future of Food, Supersize Me, and King Corn)

Resources:

Nationwide database locating farmers markets, farms, and sustainable food near you.
Slow Food USA’s recommended reading list with a range of topics and authors
Local eating resources: a website dedicated to eating locally, seasonal cookbooks, blogs, and information
Guide to certifications: find out what organic, fair trade, etc. mean