Eating green
From the foods you buy to the way you cook them, there are many things you can do to preserve the planet and lighten the imprint you leave upon the earth. Begin at the grocery store and follow up in your kitchen.
At the grocery store
When buying groceries, remember the three “N” philosophy: natural (unprocessed), naked (minimal packaging), and now (in season).
Opt for locally grown foods
On average, the food we consume travels 1,400 miles before it reaches our plates, and it creates a trail of fossil fuel consumption and pollution on its journey. Local produce doesn’t travel long distances from the field to your grocer, so the environment benefits from reduced fuel and emissions. Plus, buying local produce supports area farmers, and the produce is more likely to be at the peak of sun-kissed freshness.
Go organic
Organically grown foods have fewer pesticides, which means less pollution for our planet. Their production also produces less carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Look for the “Canada Organic” logo to ensure that you are purchasing certified organic products. Products bearing the logo must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients and be grown using natural fertilizers.
Avoid excess packaging
In a recent survey of Canadian women, 94% agreed that excess food packaging should be reduced. When shopping, buy items that use minimal and recyclable packaging. Remember that while most plastic can be recycled only once, paper and glass can be recycled many times. Further reduce packaging by buying in bulk.
Reuse shopping bags
Landfill sites are overrun by plastic shopping bags, so opt for reusable fabric bags instead. Weekly use of just one fabric bag can help each shopper divert 100 plastic bags from landfills each ye
In your kitchen
Serve meatless meals
The average vegetarian uses about 1/3 of an acre of land to satisfy food requirements each year; the average meat-eater requires about 20 times that much land. You may not be ready to give up meat entirely, but even a few vegetarian meals each week will help protect our land, energy and water. Meat production creates more harmful greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation combined, and while it takes up to 5,000 gallons of water to raise one pound of meat, it takes only 25 gallons to raise one pound of wheat.
Recycle
Our kitchens generate more waste than any other room in the house, which is mostly due to excessive packaging. Be sure to recycle your bottles, tubs, cans and plastic containers, or reuse them if you can. Use cloth towels or napkins instead of paper towels and serviettes. If you must use paper towels, recycle or compost them after use.
Green appliances
If you are shopping for new appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR logo, which indicates appliances that are energy-efficient choices. These appliances can save you about one-third on your energy bill, and they have one-third fewer greenhouse gas emissions. And remember:
Microwaves use up to 80 percent less energy than conventional ovens, so they are a green way to warm leftovers and steam vegetables.
Refrigerators are most energy efficient if the temperature is kept at 3°C and the condenser is cleaned twice a year.
An energy efficient dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand, since we often leave the tap water running as we scrub. For optimal efficiency, make sure your dishwasher carries a full load before switching it on.
