9 Ways to Eat for the Planet
HEALTHY LIVING
AUGUST 4, 2013
BY: DINA COLMAN
Do you know where your food comes from, how it was produced, and what it took to get to you? Every time you purchase and consume food, you are implicitly supporting its hidden history. This history includes geography (local or international), production methods (organic or conventional, and natural or genetically modified), and economic system (fair or free trade). Eating for the planet is about making more informed and conscious nutrition decisions.
1. Go local. Food typically travels 1,500 miles to reach our plates, depleting nutrients along the way. When you eat local, you support your local economy and reduce carbon emissions. Local food is picked when it is ripe and is much fresher when you eat it. Today you could be eating an egg that was laid yesterday or strawberries that were picked today.
2. Buy organic. Conventional foods are sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers, which isn’t good for the earth, the farmers, or your family. These chemical pollutants get into our soil, waterways, and air. Many of the herbicides and insecticides that we use widely in the U.S. are banned in Europe and other countries because of health concerns. Buy organic, especially when purchasing those fruits and vegetables that are high in pesticides.
3. Eat it all. Next time you are eating a fruit or vegetable, think about using all parts of it—including celery tops, orange peels, and beet greens. The leaves of broccoli (one ounce) provide 90% of daily vitamin A requirement while the florets only deliver three percent. Orange peels contain more than four times as much fiber as the fruit inside. You can grate them and put them on vegetables such as green beans or asparagus. Use Swiss chard stems for soups. Try sautéing beet greens with lemon and garlic. Use vegetable ends to make broth. Save waste and get some great nutrients by eating it all.
4. Load up on plants. Eating a diet heavy on foods from plants—fruits and vegetables (organic for those with high pesticides) and whole grains (non-GMO)—is good for you and for the environment. The farming of cattle requires significant energy and pollutes the earth. It takes a lot of resources (water, land, and food) to raise a cow, which can feed much fewer people than the resources used for growing vegetables. If you eat meat, eat less of it. See meat as an accent to your food rather than having it front and center in such large portions. To ensure the animals have been treated humanely, look for meat labeled Certified Humane Raised and Handled®, Animal Welfare Approved, or American Humane Certified.
5. Skip the process. Leave the processed foods on the shelves and opt instead for whole foods like fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Processed foods use a lot of packaging which ends up in our landfills. Instead of reaching for potato chips, buy the whole potato instead. There will be no bag to throw out when you are done.
6. Support green business. Buy from those companies that are making an effort to use less packaging, use recycled content in their packaging, purchase from local companies, and use organic ingredients.
7. Grow your own. When you eat, do you think about how the food got from the soil to your plate? By growing your own, you will have a better understanding of the food cycle, from seedling to edible product. This is a fun project for the whole family.
8. Compost. Composting is a great way to turn your yard and food waste into healthy nutrients for your garden, and keeps this waste out of landfills.
9. Be thankful. If you don’t grow your own, be thankful for the farmers who planted and tended to the food. Appreciate the sun and soil that made the food grow. Be grateful for the many people who transported the food so it got to your plate. Understanding the source of the food we eat brings mindfulness to our eating and helps us to make better choices.
The basic laws of economics tell us about supply and demand. We can affect change by demanding food that is healthy for us and for the environment. The supply will follow our demand.
When you purchase your next week’s groceries, can you make a few changes that are best for you and the planet?
This article is excerpted from Dina Colman’s forthcoming book, Four Quadrant Living: Making Healthy Living Your New Way of Life (Oct 2013)
Dina Colman, MA, MBA is an author, healthy living coach, and founder of Four Quadrant Living. Dina has a private practice helping clients live healthier and happier lives. Her book, Four Quadrant Living: Making Healthy Living Your New Way of Life, guides readers to make healthy living a part of their daily lives, leading to greater health, vitality, and happiness. Contact Dina at dina@fourquadrantliving.com
Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/9-ways-to-eat-for-the-planet
Examiner.com
Posted: August 6, 2013 by Certified Humane
9 Ways to Eat for the Planet
HEALTHY LIVING
AUGUST 4, 2013
BY: DINA COLMAN
Do you know where your food comes from, how it was produced, and what it took to get to you? Every time you purchase and consume food, you are implicitly supporting its hidden history. This history includes geography (local or international), production methods (organic or conventional, and natural or genetically modified), and economic system (fair or free trade). Eating for the planet is about making more informed and conscious nutrition decisions.
1. Go local. Food typically travels 1,500 miles to reach our plates, depleting nutrients along the way. When you eat local, you support your local economy and reduce carbon emissions. Local food is picked when it is ripe and is much fresher when you eat it. Today you could be eating an egg that was laid yesterday or strawberries that were picked today.
2. Buy organic. Conventional foods are sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers, which isn’t good for the earth, the farmers, or your family. These chemical pollutants get into our soil, waterways, and air. Many of the herbicides and insecticides that we use widely in the U.S. are banned in Europe and other countries because of health concerns. Buy organic, especially when purchasing those fruits and vegetables that are high in pesticides.
3. Eat it all. Next time you are eating a fruit or vegetable, think about using all parts of it—including celery tops, orange peels, and beet greens. The leaves of broccoli (one ounce) provide 90% of daily vitamin A requirement while the florets only deliver three percent. Orange peels contain more than four times as much fiber as the fruit inside. You can grate them and put them on vegetables such as green beans or asparagus. Use Swiss chard stems for soups. Try sautéing beet greens with lemon and garlic. Use vegetable ends to make broth. Save waste and get some great nutrients by eating it all.
4. Load up on plants. Eating a diet heavy on foods from plants—fruits and vegetables (organic for those with high pesticides) and whole grains (non-GMO)—is good for you and for the environment. The farming of cattle requires significant energy and pollutes the earth. It takes a lot of resources (water, land, and food) to raise a cow, which can feed much fewer people than the resources used for growing vegetables. If you eat meat, eat less of it. See meat as an accent to your food rather than having it front and center in such large portions. To ensure the animals have been treated humanely, look for meat labeled Certified Humane Raised and Handled®, Animal Welfare Approved, or American Humane Certified.
5. Skip the process. Leave the processed foods on the shelves and opt instead for whole foods like fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Processed foods use a lot of packaging which ends up in our landfills. Instead of reaching for potato chips, buy the whole potato instead. There will be no bag to throw out when you are done.
6. Support green business. Buy from those companies that are making an effort to use less packaging, use recycled content in their packaging, purchase from local companies, and use organic ingredients.
7. Grow your own. When you eat, do you think about how the food got from the soil to your plate? By growing your own, you will have a better understanding of the food cycle, from seedling to edible product. This is a fun project for the whole family.
8. Compost. Composting is a great way to turn your yard and food waste into healthy nutrients for your garden, and keeps this waste out of landfills.
9. Be thankful. If you don’t grow your own, be thankful for the farmers who planted and tended to the food. Appreciate the sun and soil that made the food grow. Be grateful for the many people who transported the food so it got to your plate. Understanding the source of the food we eat brings mindfulness to our eating and helps us to make better choices.
The basic laws of economics tell us about supply and demand. We can affect change by demanding food that is healthy for us and for the environment. The supply will follow our demand.
When you purchase your next week’s groceries, can you make a few changes that are best for you and the planet?
This article is excerpted from Dina Colman’s forthcoming book, Four Quadrant Living: Making Healthy Living Your New Way of Life (Oct 2013)
Dina Colman, MA, MBA is an author, healthy living coach, and founder of Four Quadrant Living. Dina has a private practice helping clients live healthier and happier lives. Her book, Four Quadrant Living: Making Healthy Living Your New Way of Life, guides readers to make healthy living a part of their daily lives, leading to greater health, vitality, and happiness. Contact Dina at dina@fourquadrantliving.com
Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/9-ways-to-eat-for-the-planet
Category: news