People who “eat green” try to stick to a diet made up of whole, nutritious foods that are minimally processed and good for the environment. They choose foods based on how they are grown and where they are from.
Key factors include:
1. Is it organic? Organic foods contain fewer pesticides and other chemicals that can be harmful to the body. Organic brands do not utilize fancy packaging that is expensive, wasteful, and damaging to the environment.
2. Is it local? Locally grown foods are fresher and container fewer chemicals than grocery store products. Plus, your purchase benefits your community.
3. Is it in season? Food that isn’t in season or isn’t local has to travel great distances to reach your grocery store. This process contributes to air pollution.
Eating green is a lifestyle
Eating green is good for you and good for the planet. A big part of eating green is watching your waste.
American families throw out over 33 pounds of food every month. This is a massive waste of resources and energy.
To minimize waste:
1. Don’t overbuy
2. Stick to your grocery list
3. Give leftovers to friends and family
Eating green has a reputation for being expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Eating green can be downright cost efficient if you cook most meals at home and pack lunches when you can. Plus, preparing your own food helps you avoid preservatives and cuts down on packaging.
Eating green to lose weight
The green food movement isn’t typically associated with dieting and weight loss, but it should be. Following a green diet is almost certain to lead to weight loss, because you are eating nutritious foods and staying away from the foods that have contributed most to America’s obesity problem: fast food, processed carbs,
and sugary drinks.
Here are a few reasons why “green eaters” aren’t overweight:
They eat more fruits and vegetables
They shop at farmers markets, where there are little to no processed
foods to tempt them
They consume fewer growth hormones, which have been linked to weight gain (growth hormones are found in conventional meat and dairy products)
They eat more home cooked meals, which tend to be lower in calories than restaurant meals
They choose healthier snacks
Overall, green eaters consume fewer (and better) calories and avoid harmful substances and chemicals that can contribute to weight gain.
If you want to try green eating, we recommend starting by replacing 1-2 meat-based meals each week with a seafood or vegetarian dish and by taking your lunch to work at least 3 days each week.
