When you hear the term 'green' you likely think of something that is good for the environment. This is largely true, however, green can also mean a few other things. From a food and nutrition perspective, green also happens to be the colour of the fruits and vegetables group in our Canada Food Guide. That being said, the idea of 'green' eating presented here is simply something to help people be food conscious and healthy, save money, and perhaps do their part to help the earth. Everyone has to eat and it's thought that we make literally hundreds of decision a day around food. Why not try a few 'greener' tips next time you're about to make some supper or grocery choices?
Green food tip #2: Use reusable bags, boxes and bins. During my own personal grocery trips, I've noticed this to be fairly popular around town, which is great. Some places still charge for plastic bags, so by using your own not only are you saving money but helping to reduce the plastic at Robin Hood Bay, which takes several lifetimes to decompose.
Green food tip #3: Start a family tradition for meatless Monday. Meals with nuts, seeds, beans, peas or lentils will likely be higher in good fats, fibre and antioxidants, i.e. some of the really good stuff many of us don't get enough of! It can also cut down the grocery bill a little too. Meat production also has a considerable effect on the environment believe it or not. A few years back, the United Nations released reports and told us how livestock produces more climate change gasses than all the motor vehicles in the world, a significant production of greenhouse gas emissions. Meat based diets require seven times more land than plant based diets, farm animals also surpass the world population of people by one and a half times. They also require more food and water. It's certainly an ingredient to the global warming recipe that we can decrease.
Green food tip #4: Try and avoid packaging. Buy the yogurt in the large size container, or the juice in the bottle versus individually packaged. Although individuals are convenient, remember it only takes a moment to portion into smaller reusable containers. Larger packing is usually most cost effective. The item itself is cheaper, and you don't pay the multiple bottle deposits as in the case of individual juice tetra packs or drinkable bottled yogurt. You can recycle both, however you won't get any money back for the yogurt. To reduce packaging even further try heading over to a bulk store where you can find numerous varieties of healthy diet staples and essentials, e.g. flours, cereals, a treat or two, and your protein for meatless Monday. If you buy food with extra packaging, remember many things can be picked up and reused through curbside recycling, including egg and milk cartons, cardboard from packaging, plastic tubs, aluminium pie trays, soup and tuna cans, etc. You can check out www.curbitstjohns.ca for more information on the recycling what, how and when.
Green food tip #5: Plan ahead. Planning a week's worth of meals is great to save cash, eat healthier as you're less likely to eat impulsively, and reduce multiple trips to the store. In turn, you save gas and gas dollars. To be extra green, use a grocery list, stick to it and only buy what you need, watch for sales and use coupons.
Green food tip #6: Reduce food waste. If you think you won't eat all the food leftovers, freeze some for another time. Another way to reduce food waste is to compost. Most garbage is apparently 40% of organic waste, or essentially things that could be composted. Tea leaves, coffee grounds, corncobs, fruit and vegetable peel or those rotten can all be thrown into your plant or vegetable garden.As seen in The Telegram August 8, 2011
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