Farm-to-table is a growing trend that we stand behind. Here at Rootastes, our menus are created based on which foods are in season, so we can buy local ingredients whenever possible. We believe that using local ingredients is better for us, tastes delicious, and supports our community. And we’ll prove it to you!

The statistics on food waste will make you feel bloated. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 21.6% of what goes into municipal landfills is food, the physical weight being over 29 million tons in 2014. 

This waste costs the average U.S. family of four an estimated $1,350 to $2,275 in annual losses. Furthermore, about 10% of the U.S. energy budget goes to bringing food to our tables. With up to one in seven truckloads of perishables delivered to supermarkets being thrown away, we’re not only wasting food and money, but energy as well.

According to a report from the United Kingdom, if food scraps were removed from their landfills, the level of greenhouse gas abatement would be equivalent to removing one fifth of all the cars in the U.K. from the road.

There are many ways to preserve food and reduce waste that’s not only helpful to Mother Earth, but your wallet as well.

When I first came to live the U.S. for a year in 2006, I remembered living with my American host family who had been eating carnivorously: every meal is roughly 50% meat, 30% carbs, and 20% vegetables. Protein and carbs are main components of each dish, with veggie as just a side thought.

However, when I came to live in the U.S. again in 2015, food trends had changed drastically from. America was no longer a nation of primarily junk food. People have become more health-conscious, particularly about what they eat. Real, whole foods and a more balanced diet are increasingly popular among consumers’ choices.

This shift in food thinking is not only about how we eat, but about how we change our lifestyle, buying, cooking, and dining choices. This is a great news to hear as we are shifting toward eating better. Specifically, consumers are paying attention to eating more greens, and not primarily meat. In fact, statistics show that many segments of the population have increased fruit and vegetable consumption by at least 5% since 2004.

Besides the obvious tremendous benefits to health, below are three reasons why consuming vegetables are great for other causes.