Eat Green & Waste Less: Small Choices, Big Climate Impact

When we think about climate change, food and waste don’t always come to mind first—but they should. What we eat, how we shop, and what we throw away all play a powerful role in shaping a healthier planet and a more resilient community.

The good news? Many of the choices that are better for the Earth are also better for our health, our wallets, and our neighbors.

Eat Green: Lower Impact Starts on Your Plate

Surprisingly, foods that support our well-being also tend to have a lower environmental footprint. Eating more vegetables and plant-based meals is one of the easiest ways to reduce climate impact—and it’s already happening. Many households are cutting back on beef, often without even realizing it.

Here’s a powerful example:

If a family of four swaps just one meat-based meal per week for a plant-forward option, it’s equivalent to driving 1,500 fewer miles in a gas-powered car each year.

Eating “lower down the carbon chain” doesn’t mean giving up your favorite foods—it means making small, thoughtful shifts that add up to real change.

Waste Less: Food Is Too Valuable to Throw Away

Food waste is another major climate issue hiding in plain sight. Over one-third of all food grown is never eaten, and when food ends up in landfills, it produces methane—a potent greenhouse gas.

Reducing food waste at home is easier than you might think:

• Planning meals ahead

• Storing food properly

• Sharing extras with friends or neighbors

• Composting what can’t be eaten
  

These habits not only reduce emissions they also save money and help make more food available to those who need it most.

Go Circular: Keep Resources in Use

A circular economy focuses on using resources wisely and keeping materials out of the waste stream. Instead of a “use it once and throw it away” mindset, going circular means reusing, repairing, composting, and choosing products designed to last.

Plastic waste is a prime example. Some plastics can take over 1,000 years to break down and pose serious risks to wildlife and human health. Luckily, reducing plastic is more accessible than ever—through reusable bags, bottles, mugs, and smarter purchasing choices.

Simple Actions That Make a Difference

There are many easy, everyday actions that support eating green and wasting less, including:

• Shopping smart and buying only what you need

• Making a meal plan to reduce food waste

• Storing, serving, and sharing food thoughtfully

• Choosing plant-forward meals

• Buying local and organic when possible

• Composting food scraps and yard waste

• Bringing reusable bags, bottles, and mugs

• Ditching single-use plastics and unnecessary packaging

• Recycling correctly and going paperless

• Saying no to plastic straws and utensils

• Choosing “wonky” fruits and veggies
  

Each action may feel small on its own, but together they create meaningful change.

Track Your Impact with the Clean Energy Challenge

Want to see how your everyday choices add up? Join Sustainable Stillwater MN’s Clean Energy Challenge and take part in our Eat Green & Waste Less actions. When you complete actions, you can track your progress and see how many tons of CO₂ you’re saving—turning good intentions into measurable impact.

👉 Join the Clean Energy Challenge and start tracking your impact: https://www.ssmn-cec.org/actions/categories/60

Progress, Not Perfection

You don’t have to do everything at once. Sustainability is about progress, not perfection. By choosing even a few habits that fit your life, you’re helping build a healthier planet, a stronger local economy, and a more resilient Stillwater community.

Eat green. Waste less. Go circular.

The impact starts with everyday choices—and it starts with you. Right here. Right now.