The most effective way to lower your climate footprint
DID YOU KNOW?: The biggest impact we have on the planet every single day is through what we eat?
It’s true! Food production accounts for a whopping 30% of global emissions! Just to feed ourselves! Most of that is due to the catastrophic effect that animal agriculture is having on the planet. So what can we do about it? SO MUCH. Making sustainable swaps in your kitchen pantry and meals is a tremendously effective way to reduce your climate impact…and improve your health! We gathered our favorite simple and affordable swaps for you below:
1. Swaps for dairy products
It's easier than ever to swap out unsustainable cow's milk for sustainable non-dairy options, like almond milk, soy milk, cashew milk, hemp milk, or, our favorite, oat milk. We always have coconut milk on hand to make creamy soups and curries. Coconut cream is the easiest swap for whipped cream and is available in almost every grocery store!
“But wait! Doesn’t almond milk take so much water to produce?” While growing almonds does use more water than some crops, it still uses almost HALF the amount of water than the production of cow’s milk! Learn more.
You can also use raw cashews to make unbelievably creamy sauces, which can be added to dips, sauces, dressings, homemade vegan cream cheese, and more. Allergic to tree nuts? Use silken tofu for creaminess instead!
To replace ricotta in pasta dishes, just mix extra firm tofu and nutritional yeast together with some salt and pepper (we use Adobo). You wont know the difference in a lasagna!
Nutritional yeast is your new best friend in a sustainable kitchen! Colloquially referred to as “nooch,” it is a nutritional powerhouse that gives anything it’s sprinkled on or in a cheesy and earthy flavor that is irresistible! And what’s more, you can find it in any grocery store now.
Butter is the easiest of the dairy swaps. Just try one of the many plant butters available int eh butter section of your grocery store, or better yet, just use a cooking oil you already have. Plant-based butters, though, are a great switch and can be used in anything for which you would use dairy butter: melted on popcorn or veggies, sticks for baking, buttercream frosting…anything!
2. Egg replacers
Plant-based egg substitutes in the store work great for most applications that would ordinarily require egg, but if you plan on using them a lot, the cost can add up quickly. JUST Egg is widely available in most major grocery stores now and works great for a lot of applications. But if you don’t want to go that fancy, there are so many ways to replace eggs in just about every application:
Want eggs for breakfast? Try a tofu scramble instead of scrambled eggs. It's surprisingly effective (and delicious).
For baking, you can substitute flaxseed meal, chia seeds, applesauce, mashed banana, ginger ale, silken tofu, and so many other things to make the easiest egg substitute ever. The appropriate substitute will depend on what you are baking, so check out the link for more info!
The liquid leftover from a can of chickpeas, aquafaba, can be whipped the same as egg whites for baking cakes or making meringues, too.
3. The easiest and hardest: meat substitutes
This one is the easiest because you don't have to learn anything new, or become familiar with unfamiliar ingredients…you can just omit meat from your meals. And in doing so you make a HUGE reduction in your climate footprint. The emissions and water consumption from the meat industry are a primary driver of climate change, but people just don’t want to give up meat! Start with easy swaps that keep you feeling full and not lacking in flavor, texture, or satisfaction.
Consider starting with whole foods first when trying to replace meat in meals. They're super healthy, affordable, and surprisingly effective replacements for meat in many, many recipes.
Tempeh
Seitan
Tofu (extra firm and silken)
Jackfruit
Mushrooms
Beans and lentils
Grocery stores now carry many different options for plant-based meat alternatives that truly look and taste like the real thing. These can get expensive in large quantities, and some folks balk that they are processed, but they are still more sustainable and healthier than meat! Give something new a try!
Tofurkey
Gardein
Impossible
Boca
Morningstar
Field Roast
Beyond Meat
Actual Veggies
SUSTAINABLE HOME SPOTLIGHT: Rancho Gordo Heirloom Beans
Rancho Gordo specializes in heirloom beans and products indigenous to the Americas. Their fresh-harvest beans, grains, and herbs celebrate traditional foods, and keep those traditions alive. You have never tasted beans like this in your life.
