Protecting the environment through a more sustainable diet is very much on trend. With our conscious consumer choices , we can make our personal contribution to climate protection .
Our eating habits make up almost a quarter of our ecological footprint , so we can make a difference through an environmentally friendly diet.
By reducing packaging material or consciously choosing organic food , you are already heading in the right direction for more sustainability.
With our 4 tips for a more sustainable diet , you will not only learn how to make your consumption behaviour more climate-friendly, but also find out the background to it.
Tip 1: More sustainable nutrition is(s)t regional and seasonal
Transporting food around the globe produces a lot of environmentally harmful CO2 . The same applies to fruits and vegetables grown in the greenhouse. In order for the fruits to thrive in these conditions, it takes a lot of energy.
And let's be honest: Tomatoes, strawberries and the like don't taste that good in winter anyway. If you first have to travel halfway around the world or grow in a greenhouse, they will taste very watery.
It is better for the climate and the taste if you consume food from the area when it is in season.
This applies not only to fruits and vegetables but also to any other food, from cereals and meat to dairy products and cheese.
For example, quinoa may provide a lot of valuable nutrients and bring a variety of health benefits, but oats are also a real superfood and are not inferior to the exotic plant. The significant difference: oats don't have to travel thousands of miles to land on your plate.
Not only delicious breakfast dishes can be made from oatmeal , but also delicious snacks and other treats . Like our delicious banana bread:
Sugar-free banana bread with oatmeal
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- 2 eggs
- 150 g flour
- 100 g Verival oatmeal
- 150 grams of applesauce
- 100 g almond splinters
- 50 ml milk or milk substitute
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tsp. baking powder
- Cinnamon & cocoa (at will)
- Pinch of salt
Preparation
-
Preheat oven to 180 degrees top-bottom heat. Grease a box shape.
-
Puree the bananas, add the remaining ingredients and mix well until it becomes a creamy dough.
-
Place the mixture in the box mould. Halve a banana lengthwise and place on top of the dough. A little more cinnamon cocoa and almond chips on top and off you go in the oven!
-
Bake banana bread in the oven for about 60 minutes. Allow to cool down a little
Tip 2: Reduce your waste
Although this tip does not directly have anything to do with your diet, it is an important step towards more sustainability . If you have ever consciously paid attention to how much packaging material you leave the supermarket with after your weekly shopping, then you know that it is far too much.
Supermarkets really don't make it easy for us to avoid unnecessary waste, but with a few conscious choices , you can significantly reduce your waste.
For example, buy loose apples rather than those packaged in plastic wrap, or opt for more environmentally friendly packaging materials that are less harmful to the environment in production. The use of reusable packaging is also a more sustainable option if waste cannot be completely avoided.
In addition, take your own shopping bag to the supermarket and opt for bulk packs for foods you consume frequently.
At VERIVAL you can also find some of our breakfast classics in more environmentally friendly bulk packs . By buying larger quantities, you not only reduce packaging waste , you also have to order supplies less often and can thus save CO2 .
Tip 3: Eat less meat
With a share of about 20% of all greenhouse emissions , global livestock farming is one of the largest producers of CO2 , according to the environmental protection organisation Greenpeace . On the one hand, this is due to the high CO2 emissions from ruminants, and on the other hand to the emissions from feed production. In order to produce 1 kg of meat, it takes 5 kg of livestock feed.
As meat consumption increases , we also need more acreage for animal feed . This in turn means that large areas of forest are cleared every year to grow soy as animal food.
To start with, the proportion of soy used for food production (e.g., tofu) is only 2%. The large remainder serves as livestock fodder in agriculture.
On average, every German eats about 60 kg of meat per year (including vegetarians), with the World Health Organization recommending only 15-31 kg as a safe amount for health . The average person therefore eats more than twice as much meat as recommended by the WHO.
With several meatless days a week , you are not only doing something good for the environment, but also for yourself. And if you're worried about your protein intake, we can reassure you: legumes, nuts, tofu, vegetables, and so on provide you with everything your body needs. They are not without reason among the best sources of protein in a vegan diet .
Tip 4: Organic products for a more sustainable diet
According to some studies, organic farming causes fewer greenhouse gases and other pollutants than conventional farming.
The main reason for this is the absence of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Organic agriculture not only protects the soil and groundwater, but also promotes biodiversity.
Toxic pesticides not only kill weeds, but also other living organisms and plants. In addition, the soil is heavily polluted by the use of mineral fertilizers , which makes it less fertile.
At VERIVAL, treating our environment with respect is a top priority. That is why we have been relying on the best organic ingredients for our breakfast products and your healthy breakfast for more than 30 years.
