Shifting towards sustainable food choices

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The targets and intentions we set at the beginning of the yr, mixed with unease for what’s forward, have one main overlap — meals. Involved about our well being, pockets and the local weather, what we select to eat has a profound impact on us and our surroundings.

Albertans are effectively conscious of the pressing want to vary their consuming habits towards sustainability and have aspirations to take action. But, there’s a niche between intentions and actions. What we aspire to do and the behaviours we interact in face many obstacles. However there are additionally many incentives to make the shift towards extra sustainable diets.

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In line with Sodexo Canada’s first Sustainable Meals Barometer survey carried out by Leger in December 2023, the sensation of urgency and the will to vary, whereas robust, come up in opposition to monetary issues and entrenched consuming habits. Thus far, the modifications that Albertans are ready to make are extra about discount or changes than in-depth transformations. And that’s an honest begin.

We carried out the barometer to raised perceive how shoppers take into consideration making sustainable selections, and the way we are able to proceed to help enhancements throughout the whole meals ecosystem. Greater than eight in 10 Albertans imagine adopting extra sustainable behaviours is an pressing matter. And most Albertans say they’ve already adopted some sustainable meals habits, reminiscent of decreasing family meals waste, consuming seasonal produce and shopping for native at any time when attainable.

Nonetheless, when searching for groceries, worth is crucial issue, with 94 per cent inserting it within the high 5, adopted by style and dietary worth. The least essential issue was the product’s environmental impact.

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As effectively, three-quarters of all Canadians say they don’t have the will or intention to surrender meat. Two-thirds don’t need to hand over fish and greater than half say the identical about dairy. That is considerably larger than the worldwide common as measured by Sodexo, the place solely two-fifths say they don’t need to hand over meat or fish.

Nonetheless, progress is seen within the willingness of two-fifths of Albertans to cut back their consumption of animal proteins in favour of plant proteins and to cut back their consumption of dairy merchandise. Discount in meat and dairy consumption, and readjustments to a higher number of reasonably priced, tasty and wholesome plant-based meals can happen with out main weight loss plan upheavals.

The private advantages of sustainable meals selections are wonderful motivation. Lowering meat and growing veggies have quite a few well being advantages, and swapping to plant-based proteins reminiscent of legumes gives monetary financial savings.

Finally, our particular person selections have collective advantages for society. Lowering animal protein in our diets profoundly reduces greenhouse fuel emissions, conserves water and helps meals autonomy.

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As each observers and influencers of client meals consumption patterns, we see the necessity and want to speed up change. The meals service business should work to enhance how and what we serve Canadians, aware of our position and environmental impact all through the whole provide chain.

By committing to decreasing our environmental impact by providing extra sustainable meals selections, and sourcing, making ready and serving them in additional sustainable methods, we are able to create actual change. And by providing shoppers a alternative, we are able to make it simpler and extra fascinating to make the shift.

From aspiration to inspiration and motivation, we encourage Albertans to eat and serve extra sustainably, for the well being advantages, value financial savings and the last word advantage of limiting local weather change for ourselves and generations to return.

Davide Del Brocco is CSR senior sustainability supervisor for Sodexo Canada.

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