It is really good to think before you make a meal "Where does my food come from?". Being aware is the first step to eating green. Yes, being vegan is good for the environment but you can still eat your normal diet while helping the earth.
1. Eat local. Whenever possible buy food products grown and produced locally. Farmers markets are a great place to get local fruits and veggies as well as baked and canned goods. Imported products often have to travel thousands of miles to get to your home, it's like taking a international trip every time you go to the store.
2. Eat organic. This one is good for you and the environment. Commercial produce often uses many pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers to maximize product, however these chemicals are really hard on the environment and your body. Not only does organic produce (and meat) help our earth but it tastes better and often has more nutrients. Give organic a try.
3. Grow your own. Try growing your own food. It is so rewarding to eat food fresh off the plant. If you don't have a yard try growing a few plants on your patio or on a windowsill. It's a money saver too.
4. Reduce your meat consumption. Meat farming takes a lot of land for very little product. Animals also release methanol into the atmosphere which is know greenhouse gas. Try a vegetarian dish once or twice a week. Vegetarian doesn't have to be bland so be creative.
5. Reduce packaging. Try not to buy pre-packaged food. Buy foods that come in as little packaging as possible then spend some time at home dividing it up into re-usable individual containers for snacks and lunches. This simple step will keep a lot of trash out of our landfills.
For information on what to buy organic and why check out the list of the dirty dozen foods (these are the foods that are most heavily sprayed). There are tons of great vegetarian recipes out there on the internet but here is a start. Bon appetit.
No comments:
Post a Comment