Feed: a food systems podcast Can we change what a society eats? (with Sarah Lake)
Sep 18, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Sarah Lake, CEO of Tilt Collective and expert in climate and food systems, explores how to reshape society's eating habits. She delves into the historical dominance of meat and ultra-processed foods and outlines Tilt's vision for making healthy, plant-based options more accessible. Sarah emphasizes the importance of strategic pressure on retailers and the government to promote better dietary choices. She also highlights effective communication strategies and parallels between food and tobacco reduction, urging a collective effort for change.
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How The Grocery Aisle Changed
- The modern U.S. grocery shelf shifted from local produce to industrial, monocrop and processed foods in five decades.
- That change normalized uniformity, year‑round availability, and heavy animal‑product presence in diets.
Meat's Hidden Resource Cost
- Growing meat-heavy diets is resource‑intensive because feed uses land and water twice.
- This inefficiency raises large land and water allocation concerns for feeding billions.
Meet People Where They Already Eat
- Make plant foods affordable, convenient, and desirable where people already eat, like fast food and supermarkets.
- Ensure plant options match price and convenience expectations so mainstream consumers can choose them.