Food inflation challenges - How can we stay within our budgets without sacrificing quality, nutrition, or our environmental and social values?

The food choices we make have impacts not only our health, but also on the environment. With our busy schedules, it’s not easy to always consider all the impacts, and it's not easy to know where to start to make changes.

I remember when I first became aware of the impact of my food choices. As a student on a tight budget, I realized that I had questions about every product I put in my shopping cart. Where did it come from? How was it grown? Who processed and packaged it? Would it satisfy my appetite and truly nourish my body?

Back then, and unfortunately even more so today, it was clear that what was on the grocery store shelves was far from ideal. Ultra-processed foods, unnecessary packaging and deceptive commercial practices to entice us to buy unnourishing food were already commonplace. This type of production and consumption of food is not sustainable for the planet, for our health or for our wallets. I quickly realized that I needed to equip myself with knowledge and tools to be able to eat in a way that is more responsible, and also more affordable! Since then, I've made sustainable food a priority in my personal and professional commitments. It’s an essential element in our fight for a healthier future.

I’m therefore so pleased about the launch of Équiterre’s new microsite. It’s the start of our new “Shop Smarter, Eat Better” campaign, which seeks to equip a wide audience (not just environmentalists) with a host of concrete solutions for eating well without breaking the bank or harming the planet.

Have a look! In addition to tasty, healthy recipes, you'll find tips and tricks to:

• Cook more and choose the right ingredients;
• Eat more plant-based;
• Become an anti-waste pro;
• Avoid commercial pitfalls such as “shrinkflation” and “skimpflation”.

Eating should bring us joy (especially when shared) – enjoying food that is good for our bodies and for the planet, without causing financial stress.

Our “Shop Smarter, Eat Better” campaign will officially kick off later this fall. In the meantime, enjoy your visit and bon appétit!