Tammy Roberts, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, Bates County, University of Missouri Extension
April 22 is Earth Day — a day to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment so that we can protect the natural gifts of the planet. One of the goals of Earth Day is to measurably reduce carbon emissions. There are small things that anyone can do in our kitchens and with our food to make a difference.
- Buy locally grown produce. Locally grown produce spends less time on a truck, which reduces CO2 emissions. The health benefit of locally grown produce is that it retains more nutrients. The longer the fruit or vegetable is away from the plant, the more the nutrients it loses. Most food at a farmers market was picked on the morning it is sold.
- Walk to the farmers market. You can burn 100 calories for every mile walked and for every mile you don’t drive you can prevent a pound of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere.
- Buy in bulk, which helps save and money and reduces the amount of packaging that has to go to the recycle bin or the trash…
For the complete list of tips, see the full version of this article at http://missourifamilies.org/features/nutritionarticles/nut399.htm
