Sustainable Diets & Perma(culture)

Introduction:

Deciding what foods to consume is something we toil with on a daily basis. We make this decision typically two to three times a day, 365 days of the year. Unfortunately, some are not afforded the luxury of choosing what to eat at all. According to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. households spend an average of nearly $400 a month on groceries alone (Measom, 2021) and this isn’t even considering the additional mean cost of eating out. Making diet choices can depend on cultural background, health situation, interest in the environment, or simply what you have access to (financially, geographically, or both). All of these factors play a role in what a sustainable diet can look like for each individual. Dietary sustainability is not clear- cut, but without taking into account all of its complexities we risk our very existence. This paper will reflect on cultural diets throughout history while anticipating a renaissance of permaculture practices that can guide us to a more equitable, healthy food system for the planet and its stewards. Factors considered include nutrition, blue water use, greenhouse gases (GHG), food waste, grazing methods, globalization/colonization, and its by-products of contemporary farming.

Download and read full article:

Sustainable Diets & Perma(culture).docx

Download DOCX • 801KB