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Personal Food Policy Position: Lindsey Jennette

Lindsey Jennette

Vanderbilt University

HODC 3650

Dr. Kimberly Bess

April 26, 2023

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Before this course, I never really thought about the food system in depth and how my
position could affect it. My general thinking was always, “Well, what can I do? I’m only one
small stakeholder in a world full of people who eat.” However, although it may seem like one
decision from one person may not make a change, we have discovered that a person’s change in
their habitual behaviors can make all the difference in a community. Unfortunately, it will not
always be that easy because the food system is complex and multifaceted. It would be so much
easier for the food system to change towards a positive direction if all stakeholders cooperated.
There are numerous agents, such as people, institutions, and processes that interact with
one another; any action taken by one will typically affect the others. If farmworkers decide to
stop working and go on a strike right in front of the large corporation that benefits from their
hard work and takes in the majority of the profit, consumers are affected; with no one in the
fields, and places like Publix refusing to raise prices, consumers will lose the supply of foods
they use to have because everything is connected within a chain. This whole interlinked system
has affected my understanding of the food system the most. As a consumer, I believe most walk
into a grocery store not thinking about the farmers, processors, and distributors that got that bag
of Doritos into their hands; they only think about the money they’re giving to the retail store that
they bought it from. I surely do not think about the regulation that took place to ensure the corn
that was used to make the Dorito chip is to the standards of the government’s food policy.
As a food consumer, you are also affecting the environment with your choices–
something I did not realize could be an essential responsibility of mine as a citizen. When I think
of greenhouse gas emissions, I typically consider my own driving and how the burning of my
gasoline is contributing to climate change, but I never thought about the large semi-trucks,
planes, and ships that ship all the food I eat. One change I’ve made and a decision others can
make in order to contribute positively to the food system is shopping from locally sourced
retailers. Locally sourced grocery stores create less of a negative impact on the environment
because their food travels a shorter distance, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Typically,
locally sourced grocery stores also have a smaller carbon footprint because the food they sell
involves less intensive farming practices and minimal energy with tactics used in the factory as
well as storage. Another decision I want to make is forming a habit of eating seasonal food
during their season. For example, I love mangos, but they are only in season throughout late
spring into all of summer. This change will impact the processing and storage of the mangos
because it requires less energy with the processors’ steps of refrigerating and storing the mangos
since it is taking place during the natural harvesting period. Another step I can take is choosing
products with less packaging, recyclable packaging, or biodegradable packaging. A classmate of
mine did her “Tracing the Journey of Food” assignment on chickpeas, specifically on hummus,
and she realized the actual production of hummus is surprisingly good and doesn’t involve a lot
of water consumption; however, the packaging of most hummus brands is primarily plastic. This
was unfortunate to hear because when I buy hummus, I feel like I am eating something that is
healthy for myself and good for the environment. Although its production isn’t necessarily bad, I
as a consumer can do better and try to find alternatives that do not involve plastic or at least have
significantly less plastic incorporated.
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Another decision that can be hard to make is eliminating foods from your diet. We
learned from Hannah Ritchie’s article “You want to reduce the carbon footprint of your food?
Focus on what you eat, not whether your food is local,” animal-based products have a higher
carbon footprint than plant-based foods, due to the farming practices that take place. For
example, beef’s supply chain releases 60 kgs CO2- equivalents per kg of food product in
comparison to peas which only emit .09 kgs. By reducing your consumption of meat, you, as a
consumer, can make a massive difference to the environment. Animal-based foods are so
harmful to the environment due to the methane and oxide that are released from the animals
when they digest their food. The land needed to house animals involves much more use of
equipment that releases bad toxins, deforestation to have the land, and soil erosion that disrupts
the natural cycle of plants in the area. Switching to a plant-based diet can reduce the gas
emissions, conserve water since it’s not being used on the animals, and remove the need for
harmful pesticides and fertilizers. As someone with a diet that has always involved the
consumption of meat, completely eliminating meat is not very likely– at least not right away.
However, consuming meat maybe only once or twice a week can significantly change the
harmful impact I make as a consumer. I can eventually incorporate other sustainable food habits
as well to make up for the meat I eat.
Ultimately, when I have the ability, the money, and I am in a place to make a significant
impact in creating a sustainable food system, I want have a yard where I can grow my own fruits
and vegetables. I realized this while doing my research on limes in my “Tracing the Journey of
Food” paper; the production of limes is much better for the environment, because they require
significantly less water and minimal destruction of the soil they grow in. Other practices similar
to this sustainable approach to farming and gardening can be mulching, drip irrigation, and
rainwater harvesting. These practices involve less water and increase biodiversity by either using
less water or recycling water, promoting healthy plant growth, and conserving organic resources
created by the soil.
As a college student it is hard to make sustainable choices in your food habits because
you do not have the means or time to do so. When I have my own home with a big yard, and my
economic state provides me the ability to have more time to garden, I think I will be in a place
where I am finally helping create a sustainable food system for myself. Doing so, will hopefully
have an impact on whoever I marry as well as my children. This alone will create a family of
four or five (who knows) that can form habitual habits that contribute positively to the
environment and community we live in. Growing food organically will also teach my kids to do
so, leading them to make more sustainable decisions in the future that can lead to a ripple effect
of a whole family tree of sustainable consumers. This change relates to my belief that if it is
already hard to make a difference from the government and large corporations, why not try to
make the change from within, starting with consumers– the stakeholders that are important to
keep the food system alive? Without them, the government, retailers, distributors, processors,
and farmers would lack the resources to keep the food system going.
Lastly, I am thankful for my food identity, which involves biculturalism. As an American
with a Peruvian identity as well, I know my eating habits are more sustainable than your average
American’s. Because I grew up eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, having parents who choose
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locally sourced foods, and not consuming a large number of foods with preservatives and
additives, I am accustomed to a food identity that I can be happy to take with me beyond my
childhood and incorporate into my future family. This food identity will teach my kids to be
more thoughtful about the foods they eat because they have natural, fresh ingredients; it will also
show them to incorporate healthier eating habits rather than consuming a Lunchable on the go–
something my mother never bought and instead would provide me with a home-cooked meal to
take to school.
As one person in a world of almost eight billion people, you may think your decisions in
the food system make a difference. Still, one sustainable change can lead to your impact on
multiple people in your family and community. Small steps do lead to a bigger impact than you
think.