Written by: Morganne Belton, Dietetic Intern at University of Tennessee Knoxville

Arbor Day is April 24th, a day to celebrate trees and how much they provide for us--specifically recycling carbon dioxide and providing shade! In addition to the environmental benefits of trees, there are many foods that grow on trees! Apples, oranges, avocados, pecans, and walnuts are just a few among many more. Another way to celebrate the trees and the environment this Arbor Day is through sustainable eating, which incorporates food system production, use, and recycling. Sustainability helps to ensure that we have food available for many generations. Here are a few tips for sustainable eating. 

Eat more plants

Add more plant-based foods to your diet, such as beans, nuts, and seeds, which can be a nutritious, alternative protein at meals. Eating more plants helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and may also decrease the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet. 

Grow your own food

Even if you don’t have space for your own garden, you can always start with a few container plants inside. Growing herbs or tomatoes in a container can be extremely rewarding! You will not only have healthy food available, but also a new appreciation for how plants are grown.

Re-use

As best you can, try to reduce the amount of plastic you use by purchasing a reusable water bottle. Liquids are also expensive to ship due to their weight, so decreasing use of plastic water bottles will also decrease the usage of fossil fuels related to shipping. Another way to reduce plastic is to use reusable bags at the grocery store.

Eat Seasonally

Eating foods that are in season will also help with sustainability. When fruits and vegetables are in season, they are also at their peak ripeness, so you get more nutritional benefits as well! Oranges and pears are some of the fruits that are in season in April. Vegetables that are in season include asparagus, Brussel sprouts, and spinach. 

Incorporating these tips into your shopping and eating patterns can help you eat more sustainably and support the environment this Arbor Day and all year! Be a tree hugger- be sustainable!