We live in a world where climate change is at the forefront of our minds, as we are seeing the earth change right before our very eyes

While there may be many aspects of fighting climate change that we personally feel helpless about, there is a range of ways in which we can make personal changes to our daily habit. Ways we can take action range from choosing to ride a bike to work or eating climate-friendly food as part of our daily diet.

But what makes food climate-friendly? Are there signs you can look out for to help you with your grocery store purchases so that you can feel confident you are eating climate-friendly food?

That is why we have created an easy guide to help you figure out what foods you can put into your diet to help you have a more climate-friendly diet.

1. Lots of lentils

This tiny little superfood is part of the legume family and is absolutely jam-packed with nutrients. But making lentils one of the must-try climate-friendly foods is the fact that it also has an extremely low carbon footprint. This is because lentils do not need a lot of water to grow and naturally clean the soil they are in. Lentils offer a diverse range of meal options—from soups to nachos! So eat those lentils and feel good about helping out the planet too.

2. The magical bean

Much like lentils, beans come from the legume family as well and also require minimal water to grow. Plus, beans—whether that be kidney beans or black beans—are jam-packed with many of the nutrients the human body needs to stay healthy. So eat those beans—this magical food is going to help you do your part to save the earth!

3. The flowery fig

Did you know that figs are actually flowers? In fact, this flower is often regarded as one of the most durable and tough flowers, able to survive a range of environments. That is why figs are able to grow all year long and are a viable food source for both humans and animals alike. So not only is the fig good for the environment, it tastes good too!

4. More mussels

Mussels are one of the few marine foods that are not at risk of extinction right now. So you don’t have to fear making them go extinct by having them as a meal or fishing for them yourself. Mussels not only make a tasty meal that is full of protein, but they also help keep the ocean clean from the way their shells filter in the water. So it is a positive choice all around with this climate-friendly food option.

5. Fairtrade coffee

Most people need at least one cup of coffee to get through the day, but what many don’t realize is that the coffee they are drinking is likely not fairtrade coffee. Because coffee beans are in such high demand, the beans are unfortunately grown in unsustainable ways and in unfair environments. However, if you opt to only drink fair trade coffee, you can sip away knowing that you are doing a small part in making the world a better place—and not have to feel guilty about drinking a second cup in the afternoon!

But climate-friendly food doesn’t just stop there! Some really passionate companies are also creating climate-friendly snacks like yummy and wholesome crackers to keep your energy levels high in between meals.

Hopefully, by looking at these climate-friendly foods it will feel easier to implement a more climate-friendly diet into your routine.