Want to Help the Environment? Go Green With Your Eating and Feel Better, Too

As we think about ways that we can be greener (recycle, recycle, recycle) why not take a look at what we put in our mouths. There are easy ways that we can be greener for the environment through our food intake, while at the same time making ourselves healthier.

First, buy locally. Visit your local green market or farmer’s stand weekly. Why not help keep our local farmers in business while at the same time saving ourselves money? Buying locally usually costs less and enables you to get the freshest of the fresh. Some farm stands even let you pick your own – can’t do better than that. It also saves the environment by reducing the amount of miles it takes to reach you (1,500 miles on average). Buying locally also uses less packaging, processing, refrigeration and marketing. It’s a big bang for your buck!

Second, avoid food struggles. If you have to hack away to open the package, chances are it’s not good for you. Think about eating whole foods – fresh fruits and vegetables (organic if possible), beans and legumes, oats, brown rice, sprouted breads, meats and proteins that have not been fed or raised with hormones. Focus on healthy fats such as avocados, olive oil, seeds and nuts, and cold-water fish such as Alaskan salmon.

Third, ditch those water bottles and buy yourself a BPA-free bottle. Water is an essential component to our health but all those water bottles in our wasteland do not do our environment any good. Consider a water filtration system either in your home or one you keep in the refrigerator.

Lastly, eat less meat. Believe it or not, this can be the single greenest move you can make. The production of meat requires large amounts of land, water, grain, hormones and antibiotics that pollute our soil, air and water. Just think, one pound of beef has a water footprint of 3,750 gallons while a pound of tomatoes uses 22 gallons of water. A substantial difference!

So think about ways that you can be greener. If everyone does something it can have a big impact on our environment.

--Beth St.Louis, MS, RD, LDN
Program Dietitian
Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing