Make Every Bite Count

Going "green" at mealtime means much more than consuming a side salad with your meal. There are many things you can do to ensure a safe and sustainable food supply. If you want to save the planet - and your health along with it - here are the top 5 things you can do to make a difference:

1. Eliminate your toxic waist. Become a clean, lean, green machine and go organic! Here's why: one-fourth of all the food you buy contains traces of pesticides, with 150 of the most commonly used pesticides linked to cancer. Did you know that more energy is used to produce synthetic fertilizers than to till, cultivate, and harvest all the crops in the US? Organic farming practices help to remove greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, too. If cost is a concern, choose vegetables like broccoli, asparagus and onions, as well as foods with peels, such as avocados, bananas and kiwi, with relatively low levels of pesticides, compared to spinach, apples, lettuce and coffee. The shopper's guide from The Environmental Working Group (www.foodnews.org) can guide your choices.
2. Think small. Local organic farmers use about 30% less energy in farming practices and transportation costs, and work in harmony with their surrounding environment which benefits our air, soil, water and local habitat. Many organic growers have found that organic farming is one of the few remaining ways they can stay competitive with larger scale farms. Buy local produce, eggs and grass-fed beef at your local farmer's market and support a global organic economy year-round.
3. Go wild with protein. Countless stories have emerged regarding the high mercury content in our seafood leading to unsafe mercury levels in us, which can devastate our health. Grain-munching animals in feedlots are typically fed genetically modified grain and soy which means they deliver more total fat, pro-inflammatory fat, cholesterol and calories to your plate. Hunt for grass-fed animal products, cold water, wild-caught seafood and wild game meats instead. All of these protein sources deliver a better Omega-3 fatty acid profile, fewer health problems, and minimize stress on the animal, too!
4. Tread lightly and carry a glass dish. Landfills are overflowing with Styrofoam plates, plastic water bottles, and paper cups… and there's no end in sight. Besides killing trees and consuming energy in their production, these eating containers can leach plastic polymers into our food and drink creating an increased toxic load on our systems. Stop the madness! Choose food containers that are made of glass or are phthalate-free.

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