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Annie B. Bond

Eco-Eating for You and the Earth

posted by Annie B. Bond Apr 23, 1999 11:24 am
filed under: Food & Recipes, Green Kitchen Tips
Eco-Eating for You and the Earth
43 comments

Adapted from The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices,by Michael Brower, Ph.D. and Warren Leon, Ph.D.

The production of food for household consumption is a very significant cause of environmental problems, with two main classes of foods—meat and poultry; and fruits, vegetables, and grains—making their way onto the top seven list (see below).

Consumption of these foods is responsible for most water use and contributes heavily to land use and to both common and toxic water pollution. This finding seems to pose an insurmountable difficulty. How can we substantially reduce the amount of food we eat? Although many of us could perhaps benefit from a little dieting, we are not going to suggest that cutting back on your caloric intake is the way to save the environment; do it for your health instead.

Producing food will always be a resource-intensive activity, but its impacts could be reduced considerably. Most of the changes must be systemic ones undertaken by farmers with the assistance and prodding of governments. But individual consumers can help move things in the right direction in two key ways.

1. Eat Less Meat. Our results show that meat production causes more environmental harm than other food production, so it is desirable to try to reduce the amount of meat you eat.

2. Buy Certified Organic Produce. The other strategy for reducing the environmental impacts of your food consumption is to buy certified organic produce.

WEEKLY HOUSEHOLD FOOD CONSUMPION

Number of members in household: 2.7

MEATS
Hamburger: 3.2 lbs.
Pork: 2.6 lbs.
Poultry: 3.1 lbs.
TOTAL weekly meat consumption: 8.9 lbs.

Fresh Fruit and Melons: 6.5 lbs.
Fresh Vegetables and Potatoes: 13.3 lbs.
Grains and Sweeteners: 17.5 lbs.
Milk and Milk Products: 29.7 lbs.
Seafood: 0.8 lbs.
(Keep in mind that we cannot effectively assess the comparative impacts of eating seafood.)

More on Green Kitchen Tips (55 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3244 articles available)

43 comments

Go to the Source

The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices

Paper or plastic? Bus or car? Old house or new? Cloth diapers or disposables? Some choices have a huge impact on the environment; others are of negligible importance. In these pages, the Union of Concerned Scientists help inform consumers about everyday decisions that significantly affect the environment.buy now

43 comments

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43 Comments       add a comment »
Nubia Marin

does anyone know ways that i can pack a healthy lunch without meat and no peanut butter?

Rhiannon Myst

I do eat meat, in moderation. For me, I try to eat healthy, I just don't have a big appetite. I eat to live, not live to eat.

Shihrong Hong

GOOD :)

Erica P.

I'm always surprised when people say that they like eating meat.I understand Caterina there needing to eat meat. It sounds like you have a rough diet. But I really have a hard time seeing it as food. It's flesh from an animal. I just can't do it. And dairy is starting to gross me out anyway. I have started to think about the bacteria and puss and blood that gets filtered out of milk, not to mention the fat, and the hormones that stay in there, and how the USDA is apparently lowering its standards. So if you really want to go vegan, just think about the mucus.

Becci C.

Going vegan is the easiest and most effective way to help the environment. The UN says so. :)

Buying local veggies, etc, is VERY helpful too, of course.

Karen P.

Go Veg!

Maresa Tedrick

August 3rd of this year I quit eating meat, poultry and fish. It was an "ecological" choice. I am surprised I do not miss these items. Still, I am struggling with dietary issues around a recommended (though not required) low carb diet. This will take careful management. I understand Caterina's dilemma. It is not easy!

Rebecca J.

LarS S., I'm an extreme internet surfer, that jumped at your call for help and found a few good sites with lot of information, If you find it over whelming to read all of it, just use your narrator. Just copy and paste any link to you adress bar.


http://www.wikihow.com/Compost-Successfully-%26-Safely

http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Compost-Bin

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Compost-Tea

http://www.wikihow.com/Find-Free-Compost-Ingredients

http://www.compostguide.com/

http://www.wasteonline.org.uk/resources/InformationSheets/Compost.htm

http://www.howtocompost.org/

Happy surfing and safe returns!

Rebecca Delage

we eat alot of what you mentioned we are not a fussy family...

Vicki Duncan

I dont eat much meat anyway. So this is not a hardship for me.

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Adapted from The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices,by Michael Brower, Ph.D. and Warren Leon, Ph.D.. Copyright (c)1999 the Union of Concerned Scientists. Reprinted by permission of Three Rivers Press.

Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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