As humans, we have many things in common but above all else, we share the need to eat and nourish our bodies.  By changing the way we think about the food on our plates and in our grocery stores, we can help shape our planet’s future.

Author and sustainable-food advocate Anna Lappe, explains that sustainability is an issue we all touch every day “by what we choose to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and on a personal level there is a lot we can do.” Here she outlines 6 ways to make Earth Day, an everyday choice.

1. Buy real, whole foods. That means foods as close to their natural state as possible. Foods that haven’t undergone energy-intensive processing and that do not contain chemically laden ingredients. 
2. Move plant foods to the center of your plate. Consider animal products as flavorings or additions, not the main event. 
3. Think organic: Shop for foods that have been produced without industrial chemicals and other high-energy inputs. Look for the organic seal when shopping.
4. Shop local — support your local food economy. Shop at supermarkets that carry local foods, at farmers’ markets or join a CSA.
5. Don’t be wasteful. One of the biggest problems with moving to a more sustainable food system is something we can all understand: food waste. Between 30 and 50 percent of all food that could be eaten is wasted. And “if food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, after the United States and China! What can you do? Don’t buy more than you need; use what you have, cook the vegetables in your refrigerator drawer rather than letting them wilt and die, make lunch to take to work; make use of your leftovers; and compost food scraps.
6. Use less packaging. Choose foods with minimal packaging when you shop; bring your own bags to the grocery store or farmers’ market; use reusable containers for your leftovers.