Features

9 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with your Eats

April 22, 2015

It’s Earth Day! Go ahead – pop bubbles, bake an earthy cake, and eat your way to a happier planet. Even if you have never hugged a tree, you can celebrate simply by eating some planet-loving nosh.

We’ve pulled together some easy tips on eating your way to a happier planet. Many of our fellow Foodstanders have been celebrating Earth Day all year with their eats, so we had to include our favorite examples. Happy Earth Day y’all!

1. Eat closer to the source — Local.
When you eat local, your food doesn’t travel as far, so your choices result in fewer greenhouse gases. Produce also start losing nutrients the minute they are picked, so if you eat more freshly picked food, it’s usually packed with more nutrients. And if you’re craving strawberries in February, go for the frozen ones.

Foodielicioushi Got a busy weekend ahead of me. Went to my local egg farm, turned in my old trays & picked up more eggs. Recycling & supporting local.   Foodielicioushi Got a busy weekend ahead of me. Went to my local egg farm, turned in my old trays & picked up more eggs. Recycling & supporting local. Carissas_Breads Wild Foraged Concord Grape Farm Pie Carissas_Breads Wild Foraged Concord Grape Farm Pie

2. Eat less meat.
The global livestock industry produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all cars, planes, trains, and ships combined (The Guardian). Really. So whether you go totally veggie or just observe #MeatlessMondays, a little less meat goes a long way to keeping our planet calm, cool, and collected.

Shuchi Nice & easy - spiced Avo Toasties to kick off the first Meatless Monday of 2015! Shuchi Nice & easy – spiced Avo Toasties to kick off the first Meatless Monday of 2015! shannonvittoria Eggs, avo, hummus, and tomatoes. Just another meatless Monday. shannonvittoria Eggs, avo, hummus, and tomatoes. Just another meatless Monday.

3. Eat (and drink!) organic whenever you can.
For many reasons, but if nothing else, to save the bees! 

JenniferEmilson Nadan Mutta Curry. Dinner. Eggs, spicy curry sauce and smoked basmati rice. Oh yes. Just wish we had some appam to soak up the sauce dripping down my chin 😄 JenniferEmilson Nadan Mutta Curry. Dinner. Eggs, spicy curry sauce and smoked basmati rice. Oh yes. Just wish we had some appam to soak up the sauce dripping down my chin 😄 BrenneWhisky This is what our whisky looks like when it is fresh off the still! The dark amber color will come from the barrels after it's aged for 7-8 years. Check out our organic barley field in the background!   BrenneWhisky This is what our whisky looks like when it is fresh off the still! The dark amber color will come from the barrels after it’s aged for 7-8 years. Check out our organic barley field in the background!

4. Waste less food- eat the ‘ugly’ stuff.

40% of our food goes to waste, much of it discarded before it even gets to the consumer because it is ‘deformed’ or bruised.This food isn’t ugly — it’s unique and delicious – especially if you are cooking / juicing / canning / saucing it. So grab the ‘special’ pieces whenever you can.

ajporter A friend of ours gave us a bag of farm carrots and we found these two canoodling at the bottom #hugs ajporter A friend of ours gave us a bag of farm carrots and we found these two canoodling at the bottom #hugs Rachna Carrot shishito And potato At #misfits Rachna Carrot shishito And potato At #misfits

5. Eat whole food

When you eat whole foods, those foods go through less processing = less greenhouse gases emitted.

AuntieM Mmmmmm. Figs.... AuntieM Mmmmmm. Figs…. AuntieM Root Veggies. Yes! AuntieM Root Veggies. Yes!

6. Compost!

Food waste is 15% of our waste stream (that’s a lot!)-much of which is compostable.  Almost anybody can compost, you can put it right on your countertop. It will add a ton of nutrients to your soil, and no, it won’t smell. =)

Emma This week's compost off to Tompkins Sq Farmers' Mkt Emma This week’s compost off to Tompkins Sq Farmers’ Mkt

7. Nose to tail, tip to top, whatever you fancy.
Use the whole thing and waste less! This is possible with many foods you probably never realized, so get creative and find ways to utilize those scraps!

Mokalocks Roasted carrot soup with carrot top pesto. Great way to incorporate carrot tops into a meal. Recipe: cravingsinamsterdam.com Mokalocks Roasted carrot soup with carrot top pesto. Great way to incorporate carrot tops into a meal. Recipe: cravingsinamsterdam.com ChrisCavanagh I never ever thought I would say this but ... I ate a fish head. Prepared by Nancy Silverton the guest chef tonight at WastED. But yes ... I ate a fish head. ChrisCavanagh I never ever thought I would say this but … I ate a fish head. Prepared by Nancy Silverton the guest chef tonight at WastED. But yes … I ate a fish head.

8. Eat invasive species and sustainably farmed oysters.
Yep – oyster happy hour is a good idea! Sustainably farmed oysters can help improve the quality of oceans and bays, and buying these oysters will avoid depleting the wild at-risk oyster population. Also, we have an untapped resource in invasive species, which prey upon the local shellfish population that the local fishing industry depends upon. Look for menus that serve invasive species as a way to help keep our oceans happy.

inahalfshell #tbt Visiting an oyster farm in Duxbury, MA last summer. Nothing quite like slurping an oyster straight from its native waters. inahalfshell #tbt Visiting an oyster farm in Duxbury, MA last summer. Nothing quite like slurping an oyster straight from its native waters. ChefAlli Simple food & beautiful friends ChefAlli Simple food & beautiful friends

9. Eat sustainable fish.

Some fishing methods are better for the earth than others.  Use the handy Seafood Watch guide to find seafood options that have less impact on the environment.

Tara @MichaelHalle makin that ceviche on #cobbisland. Tara @MichaelHalle makin that ceviche on #cobbisland. Philbert The most sustainable tuna fish sandwich I ever made. Did not think mayo from cafe free eggs and pole caught tuna were an option a year ago. Philbert The most sustainable tuna fish sandwich I ever made. Did not think mayo from cafe free eggs and pole caught tuna were an option a year ago.

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