Low Carbon Diet

I was lucky this week to be able to attend The First Annual Green Film Festival at Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Ma this past week. It was put on by some sponsors (yada yada. I'm not here to promote them, although I must say it was a grand time!) There were four short movies followed by a panel discussion. There were four parts- water (your liquid), food (your meals), plastic (your containers/bags), and wood (your house)- on how to essentially live eco-friendly. During one of the panel discussions someone (I wish I remember who) said something ....'go on a low-carbon diet!" Ah ha! That piqued my interest. The wheels start churning. The smoke comes pouring out. What is one diet that I can recommend and stand by 100%?! Answer: THE LOW CARBON DIET! Yesssss! (Hooray! Cheers!) :)

I came across this website awhile ago that helps to calculate your carbon emissions. Check it out- Low Carbon Diet Calculator.

Anyway, I learned a couple of interesting things while attending this festival. I knew that you could recycle your Brita filters at Whole Foods (Recycle Your Brita Filters!), but I didn't know you can recycle plastic bags! Rather, I didn't trust in the fact that if you bring your bags to Whole Foods Market they will actually collect and recycle them rather than toss them in the garbage (assuming like everybody else!) Whole Foods is the first (I believe) to also stop using plastic bags at the register. And surprisingly, they have not increased their use of paper bags (per Lee Kane, Whole Foods Market EcoCzar and Forager, who was on one of the panels!) If you don't already, use recyclable bags! (Evils of the plastic bag! More evils!)

Somebody in the audience made a comment "you're better off eating a salad in a hummer than beef in a prius." Google it. You'll come across some interesting blogs and comments. It really gets you thinking. What are you eating? Where are you eating it? Where did it come from? How am I preparing it? Somebody on the panel suggested eating beef less often to help reduce the carbon footprint rather than unrealistically advising Americans to give up beef. I wanted to stand up and shout out "Less beef and less carbon?! Yes! Buuuuuut, it also means fewer calories and less saturated fat intake for a healthier environment AND a healthier you!" I refrained, sadly! :)

I've always been an advocate of shopping locally and eating in season. There is a documentary (No Impact Man) out about a man and his family who experiment being eco-friendly for one year. This means being vegetarian, not riding on buses or taking a taxi, no TV, etc. It's an interesting concept. On the other hand, I'm not sure all of us could afford to be extremists. So what is there left to do? Anything! Something! A little goes a long way! Buy locally. (Read labels!!!) Buy foods in season. Visit your local farm! Again, a little goes a long way!

Food for thought! Enjoy your low carbon diet!