Which of the following practices contributes to a sustainable diet?

Buying local, unprocessed food is a practice that significantly contributes to a sustainable diet for several reasons. First, sourcing food locally reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting food over long distances. This transportation often involves significant fossil fuel consumption, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. When food is grown and sold within the same region, it minimizes the need for extensive shipping and storage, which is a critical factor in sustainability.

Additionally, local, unprocessed foods typically do not go through extensive packaging and processing, which reduces waste and the consumption of resources used in food production. Unprocessed foods also tend to be fresher and more nutrient-dense, which can lead to better health outcomes for consumers, supporting the concept of sustainability not just in environmental terms but also in relation to personal health.

Choosing local produce can also support local economies, promote biodiversity by encouraging a variety of crops, and foster community relationships between producers and consumers. All these factors make buying local, unprocessed food a fundamentally more sustainable choice compared to other options, which either rely on out-of-area sourcing or involve significant processing and packaging.