Green Your Cuisine
Approximately 20% of global warming pollution is generated by the food industry according to Cool Harvest (http://action NULL.interfaithpowerandlight NULL.org/site/c NULL.dmJUKgOZJiI8G/b NULL.6605225/k NULL.97F1/Cool_Harvest NULL.htm). Sources of these greenhouse gas emissions include food processing and packaging, transporting food, feed crops and livestock emissions.
Forests are rapidly being replaced by pastures and fields of feed crops. This reduces the earth’s crucial ability to sequester carbon and prevent it from reaching the atmosphere.
Healthy food choices, supporting the local economy, building community, food justice and combating climate change all converge in sustainable eating. Here are a few ideas to get started:
Know Thy Food – Ask questions and read labels to find out what goes into your food. Limit processed foods while adding whole foods whenever you can. By preparing meals yourself, you know exactly what you are eating. Growing your own takes it to the next level.
Fill Up with Fruits and Vegetables – Plan ahead and bring along fresh fruit rather than grabbing a processed snack when you get hungry. Round out your sauces, stir fries, fajitas and other dishes by adding a variety of vegetables. The veggies add bulk to your meals – but not to you!
Discover What’s Grown in Connecticut and When It’s in Season – That’s the first step to eating locally. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture offers a Connecticut Grown Crop Availability Calendar (http://www NULL.ct NULL.gov/doag/lib/doag/marketing_files/crop_calendar NULL.pdf).
Explore Local Food by Visiting a Farmer’s Market – Meet a farmer, purchase food in season and try something new. Don’t forget to bring children along so they can learn more about how their food is grown and produced. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture provides a listing of farmer’s markets (http://www NULL.ct NULL.gov/doag/cwp/view NULL.asp?a=3260&q=398996).
Understand Organic Food – Find out why organic food is safe and healthy as well as ecologically sustainable. The Connecticut Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) has many resources including general information on organic food (http://www NULL.ctnofa NULL.org/OrganicCertification NULL.htm).
Speak Up for Local and Organic Choices – Eat local and organic whenever you can and ask for these options at stores, restaurants and workplaces.
Partner with a Farmer and Preserve a Local Farm by Joining a CSA – Buy a share in a farm that offers community-supported agriculture. You provide the farm with working capital and then receive a weekly portion of the harvest. With a CSA, you share the risks and rewards with the farmer. NOFA publishes a list of CSA’s (http://ctnofa NULL.org/CSAs NULL.htm).
Lighten Up on Animal Products – Consider becoming a part time vegetarian (a couple of days a week or part of each day) or using meat for flavoring rather than as the focus of a meal. (http://www NULL.montereybayaquarium NULL.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_recommendations NULL.aspx?c=ln)
Select Sustainable Seafood– Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch (http://www NULL.montereybayaquarium NULL.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_recommendations NULL.aspx?c=ln) offers pocket lists and mobile guides to help you choose seafood that is abundant and caught or farmed in environmentally friendly, healthy ways.
Make Food a Building Block of Your Faith Community – The options for bringing healthy food into your community are plentiful. They include cooking and sharing healthy meals together for celebrations as well as canning and preserving local foods. Many faith communities start community gardens, sponsor farmers’ markets or host weekly CSA pick-ups.
Meet some of IREJN’s Food and Faith Partners.
Contact us to be added to our Food and Faith E-mail List.
