Actress Maggie May Baird explores the intrinsic connection between food inequity and the climate crisis, offering tips for plant-based eating that can help you do your part for the planet.
Many people don’t understand how connected food equity is to the climate crisis. Can you shed light on how these two things impact each other?
When we refer to food equity, we are talking about the lack of equitable access to nourishing food — due to availability, proximity, or affordability — that many communities face.
Worldwide, those who bear the brunt of food insecurity are the same communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change — women and children, people of color, and other historically marginalized communities in the United States and abroad. The climate crisis further affects our food system as extreme weather and changing temperatures can deplete our soil and affect the availability of many foods, further contributing to food insecurity.
It may be common knowledge that food insecurity is not caused by food shortages, but to fight the systemic problems, we also need to know who benefits from maintaining such a state of scarcity for certain populations generation after generation. For example, we now understand that precious arable land in the United States and around the world is used to grow crops not to feed the nearby communities, which are often shaped by multi-generational poverty and hunger, but to feed the animals that are consumed in the industrialized west. Unsurprisingly, it’s Big Ag and large corporate interests (and the politicians supporting them with subsidies) that benefit from food systems that replicate inequity while harming the planet year after year.
By driving the demand, acceptance, and accessibility of plant-based alternatives, our work lands at the intersection of food and climate with new information and compelling solutions rooted in the marketplace of consumer behavior and public awareness.
Why does food supply sourcing matter, and how can people start to be more mindful of where their food and ingredients come from?
Food supply sourcing matters because it impacts personal health, environmental sustainability, social justice, and local economies. For those who have the ability to choose the food they eat, it’s beneficial to make choices that support ethical, sustainable, and health-conscious food systems. We can also achieve these positive impacts for communities that rely on institutional settings for nutritional support by driving awareness and change among leaders and stakeholders.
Here’s why food sourcing matters:
- Health & Nutrition — Local, seasonal, and organic foods are often fresher and contain more nutrients. It’s also true that the environmental cost of even local meat and dairy products can be much higher than plant products, even if those involve importing from other areas.
- Environmental Impact — Sustainable sourcing reduces carbon emissions, deforestation, and water waste while promoting biodiversity.
- Worker & Animal Welfare — Ethical plant-based sourcing ensures fair wages and humane working conditions for farm workers and reduces animal suffering.
- Food Security & Local Economies — Supporting local farmers who grow crops for human consumption and small businesses strengthens community food systems, making food more accessible and affordable.
What are the biggest myths you’d like to bust for people who are hesitant to adopt a plant-based diet?
Myth: Plant-based diets don’t provide enough protein.
Truth: Many plant-based foods, such as lentils, beans, tofu, and quinoa, are protein-rich. These and countless others can meet or exceed daily protein requirements and also contain valuable fiber, which science tells us is equally important for our health.
Myth: Eating plant-based is too expensive.
Truth: While some plant-based commercial products can be priced higher for various reasons, including government subsidies for animal agriculture, staple plant-based foods like grains, beans, seasonal fruit and vegetables, and the large array of dishes created from them, can be more economical than meat and dairy.
Myth: Plant-based diets are not suitable for athletes.
Truth: Some of the greatest athletes of our day thrive on plant-based diets, benefiting from reduced inflammation and improved recovery times. Key nutrients important for muscle growth, stamina, and performance can be obtained from plants, and supplements are available as needed for unusual demand, which would be true for athletes following any diet.
Myth: Plant-based diets are bland and lack variety.
Truth: Eating a plant-based diet can actually dramatically increase the variety and flavor in one’s meals. Rather than relying on a standard meat-centered plate with a small side dish, plant-based eating encourages the exploration of a wide range of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and spices, leading to diverse and flavorful meals. Many of the most delicious, culturally-favored foods are essentially plant-based, with distinctive seasoning and preparation being the key to their amazing flavor. We currently consume only a fraction of the edible plants our beautiful world contains. Discovering new and exciting tastes and flavor combinations is just one of the benefits of shifting to a more plant-based diet.
Myth: Plant-based foods are not filling.
Truth: Foods high in fiber, like many plant-based options, can be more satiating, helping to keep you full longer and help manage weight effectively. Healthy eating requires awareness about limiting overly processed or fried foods, but when the bulk of one’s diet is plants in their healthier forms (e.g. baked potato vs. french fries), a plant-based diet can be extremely filling and satisfying.
Myth: It’s too hard to find plant-based options when eating out.
Truth: This entirely depends on where a person lives and is one of the issues around food equity. In some places, it is extremely difficult, with the prevalence of fast food restaurants, few grocery stores, and a lack of healthier options. However, in general, the availability of plant-based options at restaurants and even fast-food chains is increasing. Asking non-plant-based restaurants what their plant-based options are is a great way to encourage businesses to think about what they can do to increase human and planetary health.
Myth: It’s too hard to find plant-based options when eating out.
Truth: This entirely depends on where a person lives and is one of the issues around food equity. In some places, it is extremely difficult, with the prevalence of fast food restaurants, few grocery stores, and a lack of healthier options. However, in general, the availability of plant-based options at restaurants and even fast-food chains is increasing. Asking non-plant-based restaurants what their plant-based options are is a great way to encourage businesses to think about what they can do to increase human and planetary health.
Many people feel overwhelmed by the climate crisis and don’t feel their individual actions can make a difference. What advice do you have for these folks?
I get it. It isn’t easy to see in the immediate moment, and we also know that corporations and government actors have purposely tried to shift their responsibility to consumers — which can definitely make us feel resentful and also make our actions seem inconsequential by comparison to the massive impact that could be happening. However, our personal actions, when magnified by millions of people joining us, are extremely impactful.
According to a study from Oxford University by Joseph Poore, the single best way we can lessen our impact on the environment is to eat less meat and dairy. When we multiply our personal actions by millions of people joining us, the numbers are staggering. For example, imagine that the ten thousand people assembled in a stadium or arena converted just one of their meals every day to a plant-based meal for thirty days. Together, they could save approximately 7 million gallons of water…..and that’s just talking about water! This is why we ask our audience to take the Support+Feed pledge to do just that, and we help pledge-takers on their journey by sharing easy, affordable, accessible, and delicious plant-based recipes and other tips. We also know it can be intimidating, especially if you’re already facing a shortage of choices in your area for fresh produce and other key plant-based ingredients, so we’re here to support people as they move to a more climate-friendly diet!
What are your plans for Earth Day, and what tips do you have for others who are eager to get involved?
I am so glad Earth Day was created to direct desperately needed attention, but of course, we want to focus on our planet’s health and addressing the climate crisis every day! Support+Feed hosts several impactful community activities in Los Angeles, such as our free farmers market in partnership with the City of Bell Gardens at the Veterans Park Recreation Center, distributing rescued produce and providing hot, plant-based meals to families and children. To celebrate the launch of Earth Month, we will be facilitating a community conversation and a plant-based meal that will bring people together to explore why what we eat really matters. We’ll also be continuing our regular meal distributions to organizations around L.A. and to survivors of the L.A. wildfires — particularly in the Altadena area — with our twice-weekly pop-ups. All across the country in our 11 anchor cities, we will be crafting conversations, cooking demonstrations, and food distributions that are focused on the unique needs of each of our communities. For us, it is the perfect way to spend the month, sharing delicious food and conversation.
We would love it if you would join us in action! You can take our Support+Feed Pledge to eat one plant-based meal a day for 30 days to start you off on your plant-based journey. We have tips and recipes on our website and social platforms that are designed to support you! We would also love for you to apply to be a volunteer with us to help deliver our food and resources in our cities. You can submit your form here. We love and are so grateful to our volunteers who are a key part of the work we do.
Support+Feed will be engaging with our digital audience and corporate partners to inspire them to take the Support+Feed pledge and eat one plant-based meal a day to celebrate as well.
