The contents of that fact sheet are below. For direct access to the fact sheet go to www.mypyramid.gov/downloads/TenTips/GoingGreenTipsheet.pdf or http://goinggreenwithmypyramid.blogspot.com/2010/04/going-green-with-mypyramid.html
Did it ever occur to you that your daily food choices can impact the environment? Food has a lot to do with the environment—probably much more than you’d think. From farm to table, there are many points where green decisions can be made.
1. Buy directly from a farmer
Check out your local farmer’s market or join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Look for local sources of fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, cheese, or eggs. They may have traveled fewer miles and contain less packaging, thereby saving energy.
2. Buy in bulk
Shop in stores that sell foods in bulk bins to reduce solid waste and resource use. Food co-ops often offer many grains, flours, beans, nuts, dried fruit, soup mixes, and ready-to-eat cereals in bulk. Buying in bulk may be cheaper, too.
3. Reduce food package waste
Buy larger sizes. Omit single serve containers and juice boxes from your grocery list. Buy milk and yogurt in the largest container you will use. Recycle: take your own shopping bags to the store!
4. Look for the USDA Organic seal
When shopping, look for the USDA Organic seal. It assures you that the agricultural products marketed as organic meet strict standards. Organic crops are raised without using most conventional pesticides or petroleum-based fertilizer. Animals raised on an organic farm must be fed organic feed and given access to the outdoors. They are given no antibiotics or growth hormones.
5. Eat seasonally
Plan your meals around the vegetables and fruits that are in season in your growing area. Seasonal fruits and vegetables can be less expensive, too
6. Vary your choices in meat and beans
Sometimes use nuts or beans, such as kidney, pinto, or garbanzo beans, to vary the protein in your entrée. Less energy is used to produce them, compared to the energy used to produce meat or poultry.
7. Start a vegetable garden
When you grow your own food, you control the use of pesticides and omit the need for transportation or packaging. If you have a small space, try herbs on your windowsill or other vegetables in pots.
8. Think natural
Buy foods in their natural state or minimally processed, such as rolled oats instead of instant oatmeal, or fresh chicken instead of chicken nuggets. This reduces the fossil fuels needed for processing. It can lower your calories, too.
9. Drink tap water
Eliminate individual water bottles from your grocery list. Buy a reusable water bottle and fill it with tap water. Water from your tap is free. The processing, packaging, transportation, and storage of bottled water uses more fossil fuel and bottle disposal adds to household waste.
10. Cook at home
Great suggestions! Power to that pyramid.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it is more expensive to make a half gallon of homemade orange juice than to buy a half gallon of orange juice. Raw fruits and veggies ought to be a lot cheaper than canned fruits and veggies.
Thanks for sharing, Shira! It would be good for this Going Green Pyramind to be mandatory in schools, restaurants, homes.
ReplyDeleteAnthony, right now more people buy canned fruits and veggies so it makes easier for the companies to lower the prices and not lose $ whereas organic food is still expensive because fewer people opt for this. Raw fruits and veggies would become affordable when and if more people change their eating lifestyles.
I do not buy orange juice anymore. If I want orange juice, I just eat oranges! Orange juices do have preservatives. The skin of orange will disappear naturally while the orange juice cartons will be added to the landfill.
While out of season, I would choice frozen fruit and vegetables with organic if available over canned. It was fresh out of garden and immediately processd into freezer. Eat whole fresh orange or fruit is best option than juice because of high fiber and enzyme.
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