Green Eating Stats and Tips

Stat: Researchers at Iowa State University have found that fruits and vegetables travel an average of 1,500 miles within the U.S. (a 22 percent increase since 1981). When imported foods are added to the mix, the average distance from farm to the dinner table increases significantly.
Tip: buying food from a local farmers market will decrease the amount of energy it takes for a simple food item to get into your fridge. Local farmer's markets can be found on this website: www.farmersmarket.com

Stat: Scientists estimate that we have removed as much as 90 percent of the large predatory fish such as shark, swordfish and cod from the world's oceans.
Tip: Eat seafood responsibly by knowing which are the "greenest" choices to purchase. Download a "Seafood Watch" list from the Monterey Bay Aquarium website: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/download.aspx

Stat: This year Americans will spend over $110 billion more on fast food than they'll spend on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined.
Tip: spend the extra effort to make a home cooked meal with organic products that will save you money and your future health. This website will show you 50 ways to eat healthier: http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/02/fifty_easy_ways_to_eat_green

Stat: Only 10% of the 35,000 pesticides introduced since 1945 have been tested for their effect on people.
Tip: Purchase and eat organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible.

Stat: Meat is the most resource-intensive food on the table. Producing meat requires huge amounts of water, grain, land, and other inputs. A pound of beef requires around 12,000 gallons of water to produce, compared to 60 gallons for a pound of potatoes.
Tip: If you’re a meat eater, try cutting out just one serving of meat each week. (As an added bonus, the United States Department of Agriculture advocates eating less meat, more fruits and vegetables, and less fat for control of chronic disease such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.)

Stat: An average of 137 rainforest species are driven to extinction every day. The number one cause is loss of habitat due to tree clearing to provide land for coffee plantations, logging and cattle ranching.
Tip: Purchase only shade grown coffee at your local supermarket or online:http://www.birdsandbeans.ca/

Stat: Fruit and vegetable vitamins vary according to the seasons, as do our needs. Fruits and vegetables that grow in the summer have a high fluid content which help to cool you down. Winter root vegetables are high in starches that help slow the release of energies, which keep you warm.
Tip: By purchasing local foods in-season, you eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods thousands of miles, your food dollar goes directly to the farmer, and your family will be able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables.

Stat: Pesticide use degrades air and water quality, while threatening the health of workers, farmers, and communities.
Tip: Organic foods reduce the amount of pesticides in your diet and the planet's water and soil, and organic options are available for many types of foods — fresh and packaged.
Stat: According to a recent study at the University of Arizona, the average household wastes an estimated 14 percent of its food purchases—a loss of significant value for most families.
Tip: Purchase foods that you can consume before they expire to help minimize food waste and shrink your grocery bill. Also, consider composting your food waste to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the need for synthetic fertilizer.