Eat Meals

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How to take action

• Plan meals. Rather than grabbing snacks on the run, think ahead about what your meal will include – a main dish, a fruit or vegetable, something on the side. Take the time to assemble the items all together before starting to eat.
• Allow time. It's hard to appreciate food when you're rushed, and it's hard to develop a culture of conversation and relationship-building when time is tight.
• Sit down. Busy schedules often result in "grazing" – snacking on the go. Sitting down makes you more aware of what you eat, and helps structure your time to enjoy the meal. If you find your schedule tends to prevent this, try to slow down.
• Create family dinners. Pick a few nights a week for family meals and stick to them. Include family members in cooking plans. Make it fun to spend time together. Do not eat in front of the TV; place the family dinner table and the prepared meal at the centre of the gathering.
• Share food. Invite friends over regularly to share a meal. Pot-luck is a great way to place the emphasis on spending time instead of stressing about cooking. (Though cooking for friends is a great way to inspire your inner chef!) You could create regular get-togethers where people experiment with local-food recipes and bring their stories along with their creations.
• Make food an adventure. Each week, choose one local foodstuff that you learn about, learn where to buy, and learn how to cook. Involve your kids in sourcing (visiting a farm in season is fun), preparing, and serving the food. You will develop a lifelong respect for food systems in them, and you'll enjoy a good family meal along the way.

Why it makes a difference

• Enjoying and respecting good food is a link to respecting the planet. The more we take time to consider our food choices, the more we are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build the links with community and ecosystem that help create a sustainable world.

For more information

• Learn more about food culture and its importance. Michael Pollan's books In Defense of Food and Food Rules are great places to start. Watch a speech by Michael Pollan about our relationship to the ecosystem.