Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, one aspect of climate change includes the foods that we eat and the process it takes to create them. The current lifestyle is not wholly sustainable as food production has ramped up tremendously and now, it's starting to wear on the environment we've grown so fond of because, obviously, it keeps us alive. According to the New York Times, greenhouse gases do account for somewhere between 21 and 26 percent of the total of the world's greenhouse emissions, with an additional eight percent accounting for food waste. These might not seem like huge numbers but considering how many people currently live on planet earth, those numbers are pretty astronomical in terms of how much damage is being done to the planet every year.

Sustainable food sources and sustainable eating are two things that should go hand in hand when it comes to saving the planet. Many countries already have a headstart on this and some of them have always lived sustainably, in stark contrast to countries where food production consists of factories and machinery. That's not to say that any single country has perfected the art of sustainable living but there are some that we can definitely take a few lessons from, especially when it comes to the food we eat.

India

As it turns out, legumes are a highly sustainable crop which means India is one step ahead of the rest when it comes to a sustainable lifestyle and diet. In Indian cuisine, legumes are a major part of traditional dishes and are high in nutritional value, but offer many benefits to both the land and livestock as well.

They're the heartier of crops and do well in all types of weather meaning that fields of legumes are far less likely to have a 'bad year' than other vegetables. They're also magic for the soil, as they leach life-giving vitamins and minerals back into the land, and it's these same nutrients that help the digestion of livestock. Which, if anyone knows anything about how methane works, is a great benefit to both humans and the world.

Venezuela

Venezuela surprises the world with its sustainability because a majority of the cuisine's traditional food revolves around one thing: Shellfish. In many other countries, the US included, shellfish is on the expensive end of things because it's not easy to procure everywhere and has become somewhat of a delicacy.

Meanwhile, in Venezuela, it's not uncommon to grow up on shellfish, especially those which can be found at local beaches. Mussels, scallops, and clams are all part of the menu in many restaurants throughout the country and every recipe seems to have its own unique way to feature each shellfish. They're so abundant because it doesn't take much space for them to grow, they help to purify and filter the waters around them, and they're incredibly healthy.

Related: According To Healthline, These Are The World’s Healthiest Cuisines

Vietnam

Vietnamese food has long been hailed as some of the best Asian food on the continent due to its extraordinary flavor and unique cooking methods. It's so popular that it has made its way around the world and has become abundantly popular in North America as well, with many US locations opening up serving traditional Vietnamese dishes.

However, that doesn't mean it's automatically sustainable - there's one more key aspect to Vietnam's culture that makes it so environmentally-friendly, and that's the fact that meat isn't nearly as prevalent as it is in other countries. Red meat is the main culprit and that's something that's used little or not at all in Vietnamese dishes.

Lebanon

While there's nothing specific about Lebanon's food that makes it safe for the planet (aside from the fact that it's delicious and there are many vegetable-based options), it's more the process of eating in this country which makes it so sustainable.

It's not uncommon to have many small plates as opposed to full-on meals in Lebanon which, much of the time, are split between a group of people. This process of eating community-style helps to keep down food wastes and is a great way for many to eat enough, rather than a few eating much while others go without. This would do plenty in the way of reducing that eight percent of the world's food waste.

Related: Artichokes: How To Cook (And Eat) One Of The World's Oldest-Known Foods

Kansas, US

Interestingly enough, Kansas is set apart from the rest of the country in the sense that many of its food sources are self-sustainable.

As reported by the New York Times, the bison population is once again thriving and their methods of farming are conducive to giving back to the land, as well as helping to further along pollination, something which much of the world is struggling with right now.

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