Embedded Files
The Secretary of Health and Human Services has been in the news quite a bit for causing confusion, and he's having no less of an effect on the climate crisis news front:
Where Are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and What’s RFK’s Beef With Beans?
I received this article from Sentient Health by way of One5C. The link is below:
https://sentientmedia.org/dietary-guidelines-for-americans-and-rfks-beef-with-beans/
What does this have do do with climate change? A plant based diet produces less carbon than a meat based diet!
New Study from the University of Illinois Challenges the Meat-Muscle Theory
Monica Eng for Axios
https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/05/27/muscle-building-meat-versus-vegan-plant-based?
Ready for some good news? Here is a story I got from climate news source One5C, that involves chocolate and sustainability!
"Cacao takes a sustainable twist:
When most people hear “cacao,” they think chocolate. But traditional chocolate production uses only the beans, leaving the rest of the plant—the pulp and husk—to pile up and burp planet-heating methane as it breaks down. That waste, coupled with deforestation, drives up chocolate’s carbon footprint to make it one of the most-emitting foods around. Blue Stripes, a snack company sourcing cacao pods from Ecuador, is making use of those forgotten parts, Caroline Saunders reports for Grist."
CAN EATING SUSTAINABLY BE TARIFF-PROOF?
Here's a timely and hopefully helpful article from One5C:
By Molly Glick March 6, 2025
Didn't we see this coming? Not sure this is a good way to bring prices down! This article is from Organic Consumers.
Fear of Deportation Empties California’s Farm Fields, Upending Lives, Threatening U.S. Food Prices
Fear of Deportation Empties California’s Farm Fields, Upending Lives, Threatening U.S. Food Prices
Ready to eat healthy? 5 ways to cut UPF in the New Year
If one of your goals for the new year is to try to eat healthier, here is a great article from EWG about cutting out over processed foods:
https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2025/01/ready-eat-healthy-5-ways-cut-upf-new-year
"EWG Tests of Hummus Find High Levels of Glyphosate Weedkiller"
"EWG Tests of Hummus Find High Levels of Glyphosate Weedkiller"
The article incudes a chart of the amounts of Glyphosate in many hummus brands and in brands of chickpeas. Why chickpeas? Because you can make your own hummus with a can of chickpeas and a few other ingredients! https://www.ewg.org/research/glyphosate-hummus
Unmasking the ingredients in fall’s favorite flavor: pumpkin spice
Unmasking the ingredients in fall’s favorite flavor: pumpkin spice
Nov. 3, 2024 Had enough pumpkin spice yet? If not, you might want to read this article from our friends at the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, to learn what to look out for in the products you buy!
Farm Bill Priority #1: Fewer Factory Farms,
Farm Bill Priority #1: Fewer Factory Farms,
More Grassfed Meat!
More Grassfed Meat!
March 19, 2024 | by Alexis Baden-Mayer Organic Consumers Association
"U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, has reintroduced a package of bills geared towards reforming the country’s agriculture sector. One of these bills, the Farm System Reform Act, would mean the end of factory farming and more grassfed meat."
The Farm System Reform Act:
Untangles the wicked problem of factory farming by getting to its root: the power imbalance between the companies that control the meat industry and the family farmers who do their bidding;
Makes the Big Four meatpacking companies liable for the waste, pollution and adverse health impacts of their factory farms; and
Restores mandatory and meaningful country of origin labeling to protect American beef and pork farmers from unfair competition from overseas, while expanding this protection to dairy farmers.
Before we tell you more about what the Farm System Reform Act would do, let us tell you why we need it:
https://organicconsumers.org/farm-bill-priority-1-fewer-factory-farms-more-grassfed-meat/
What's for breakfast? Most days I have a bowl of cereal, because I wake up hungry, and its easy. I know most of them are processed food, but I try to eat the healthier ones. But which ones are healthier? I haven't done a food product review in a while, and found this article from EWG while searching through the "archives."
"Serve up healthy mornings at home with EWG’s top organic cereal choices:
EWG recommends against eating too many ultra-processed products, a designation that applies to most packaged breakfast cereals. However, if you do choose cereal for your morning meal, there are significant differences between organic and conventional processed options.
Organic cereals contain fewer ultra-processed ingredients and potentially harmful food additives than their conventional counterparts. By choosing organic, you avoid artificial preservatives, colors or flavors, because they are not allowed for use in organic foods. Looking at cereals in EWG’s Food Scores database, nearly a quarter of conventional cereals contain the harmful preservative BHT. That’s just one example. Approximately 2,000 synthetic chemicals can be used in conventional packaged foods. But only a tiny fraction of synthetic substances that have passed rigorous screening can be used in organic packaged foods.
Federal regulators and independent experts are required to screen synthetic substances before they can be approved for use in organic products. These ingredients are permitted for use only if there are no organic or natural alternatives. Ingredients that harm human health are banned from packaged organic foods, as are synthetic ingredients that damage the environment.
Packaged organic foods also have a better overall nutritional profile and less added sugar.
Organic packaged foods must be formulated in compliance with robust standards set by independent and government experts, to the benefit of your health."
For the rest of the article, which includes a list of recommendations, click below:
https://www.ewg.org/.../serve-healthy-mornings-home-ewgs...
EWG also has a searchable database, so you can type in your favorite cereal and see how they do: https://www.ewg.org/foodscores/
Food Product Dating
Food Product Dating
What Date-Labeling Phrases are Used?
What Date-Labeling Phrases are Used?
There are no uniform or universally accepted descriptions used on food labels for open dating in the United States. As a result, there are a wide variety of phrases used on labels to describe quality dates.
Examples of commonly used phrases:
A "Best if Used By/Before" date indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.
A “Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except for when used on infant formula as described below.
A “Freeze-By” date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
Beginning Farmers Are at a Crossroads.
Beginning Farmers Are at a Crossroads.
Here’s How the Next Farm Bill Can Help.
Here’s How the Next Farm Bill Can Help.
Here is an interesting article from Organic Consumers Organization, concerning the people who produce our food and how the Farm Bill affects them, and in turn us.
Just in time for the holidays, I found a great food website, through a Sierra article about chocolate! It's called the Food Empowerment Project, and it has all kinds of great links! Here is the Sierra article by Jessian Choy: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ask-ms-green/chocolate-treat-ethically-sourced-sustainable-fair-trade-sugar-free-plastic-free?suppress=true&utm_source=greenlife&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
Here is the Food Empowerment Project: https://foodispower.org/
Reducing Food Waste
Thanks to Catholic Climate Covenant and their Laudato Si Action Pledge, I have a whole new resource of info and tips! The first one is about food waste. Just in time for Thanksgiving, it has tools to estimate how much you will need to buy, so that food doesn't get wasted. There's a lot more in this resource, so watch this space!
Hallowe'en!!!
Well, Hallowe'en is almost here, so we need to think about sustainable ideas for treats to give the Trick or Treaters.
I will post some links below as I find them
https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/eco-friendly-halloween-treats-for-trick-or-treaters/
https://wildminimalist.com/blogs/news/5-zero-waste-candy-alternatives-for-trick-or-treaters
https://www.honestlymodern.com/sustainable-and-low-waste-halloween-candy-for-trick-or-treating/
https://sustainablykindliving.com/best-eco-friendly-low-waste-halloween-candy-treats/
Seaweed?!
Seaweed?!
Admittedly, I know nothing about it and have never tried it. But it sounds great and I would like to, so I'm going to see if I can find some. Click the link below to find out more:
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/how-cook-seaweed-and-why-you-should
Food, Climate and Nature FAQs
Food, Climate and Nature FAQs
A guide to regenerative food practices across forests, farms and seas. Plus, how you can support food systems that heal the planet. Why is this in the Groceries page? It's all about food and how we grow and produce it, and what we choose to buy has a lot to do with that!
I plan to use this guide as a tool to improve my understanding of how agriculture and food systems work, and to support regenerative practices by creative shopping, cooking and eating.
Food, Climate & Regenerative Farming FAQ | The Nature Conservancy
Dirty Dozen™
Dirty Dozen™
Have you heard of the "Dirty Dozen?" The EWG has created a list of fruits and vegetables that we should be concerned about when it comes to pesticides. Of the 46 items included in their analysis, these 12 fruits and vegetables were most contaminated with pesticides. There is also a "Clean 15" and 19 that they tested but didn't put on either list.
Organic vs. Sustainable or
Organic AND Sustainable?
Here's a really interesting article I found explaining the differences in organic farming and sustainable farming, and why some people actually consider organic bad for the environment! https://sustainabilitynook.com/is-organic-food-sustainable/ Here's a few exerpts:
"Organic food is one of the most recognized eco-friendly alternatives to conventional food....However, there are many criticisms of organic food, especially arguments that claim organic food isn’t sustainable.... Organic farming is not considered sustainable because using non-GMO seeds and natural fertilizers doesn’t produce high yields like conventional farms. Compared to sustainable farming certifications, organic farms often fall short in caring for the local environment, as maintaining biodiversity."
"The two can work together, and many sustainable goods are organic! So how can we improve organic food to also be sustainable?"
5 Questions for Sustainable Grocery Shopping
Here's a great help for those of us who are trying to become better consumers. The article explains how to use the criteria, and the sustainability issues involved. It's often hard to meet one criteria, for instance whether it's grown or produced locally, even harder to meet all of them, so what do we do? This is a good guide! Here are the 5 Questions: 1. Will I eat the food? 2. How is the food packaged? 3. Where was the food grown or produced? 4. How was the food grown or produced? 5. Who or what does my money support?
https://www.sustained.kitchen/latest/2020/8/12/5-questions-for-sustainable-grocery-shopping
The Question of Food Waste
From beginning this website I have emphasized that I am not an expert, but rather someone who's goal is learning how and what to do better to mitigate climate change. Question #1 above got me thinking, because many of the suggestions, for example making a grocery list and planning menus, were things that I do! So maybe I am somewhat of an expert on this! And it seems to work, because I waste less than I used to. So this is what I do: Each week I read the flyer of the store I plan to shop at, usually online, unless I get a paper copy. I usually go to one store that I like because they are a local business and family owned (#5). But I also go to a couple other stores (like Trader Joe's) every few weeks for variety. I look to see what's on sale that I like, especially if it's organic. I'm talking about vegetables, grains, sometimes chicken if it's organically raised. Then I look for recipes using those products; for example this week they had organic white mushrooms on sale, and I know I have recipes calling for mushrooms. Or I look for mushroom recipes on Weight Watchers or some other source. I check to see if I have all of the other ingredients in the recipe, and put them on the list if I don't. Then I make a Menu List with the name of that recipe, and others I plan to make, AND WHERE THOSE RECIPES ARE! This is important because I have often forgotten where the recipe is! After shopping, maybe the next day, I check the recipes again, and see if I got everything I needed, because sometimes I don't find some things. I decide what is most perishable, or needs to be made first, and number the recipe names as 1, 2, 3, etc. I almost always change it after a few days. It's good to be flexible. I have also learned not to plan too many, because there are often leftovers to work into the meal schedule. Also, when making your list, don't forget to check the fridge for cheese and other food that needs to be used up #1. Also check the cupboards for canned goods, etc. that has been there a while, or you have a lot of. You may get ideas for more meals (Bean and Grain Salads, anyone?)!
The Question of Local
What is meant by local? When I think of local for food sources, I think of my county or state. I think of farmer's markets. If you read the article from Sustained Kitchen, it says: "To find locally grown or locally produced foods, seek out co-ops, farm stands, CSA's, farmers market and other places where they sell local foods. When you're in the grocery store, you can also check produce tags, packaging and signs to find where foods were grown or packaged. "
"Highest Standard: A local farmer grew the food, or the food product was produced on my home continent."
That's a pretty wide range! Well, better than having it shipped across an ocean. Buying something like produce, meat or products that are "whole", and not processed, are a very different matter than products that are grown or raised one place, then combined with others in another place, and packaged in yet another. When I have traveled across the country, it seems that the majority of vehicles on the highways are trucks transporting goods. I think of all that fuel. After trying to determine the "localness" of ice cream, I took a deeper read of the "5 Questions" article and clicked on the "local food" link: "The Pros and Cons of Local Food". I highly recommend that you read it. The "bottom line: BUY LOCAL WHEN YOU CAN, BUT DON’T GO TOO OUT OF YOUR WAY."
Food News!!!
Food News!!!
Here's an article from EWG about Ice Cream and Popsicles you might want to read:
Here's an article from EWG about Ice Cream and Popsicles you might want to read:
Many brands of the ice cream and popsicles we buy may contain chemicals associated with health
issues: Red No. 3 and Titanium dioxide. These chemicals are banned in Europe for most uses in foods,
but are legal in the U.S.. California and N.Y. have introduced bills to ban these chemicals from foods
sold in their states.
Check out this link to find out which brands to watch for, or buy organic. "Packaged foods that are certified organic must meet strong standards that protect consumers from exposure to potentially harmful food additives. Titanium dioxide and Red No. 3 are not allowed for use in organic foods."
Now for the Ice Cream Reviews!
Now for the Ice Cream Reviews!
After reading the 5 Questions article, I feel that ice cream is a good example of a product to apply that thinking to. Deciding on how to purchase ice cream or an ice cream alternative sustainably is complicated. So, Question #1: Will I eat the food? Haha, ice cream? That's a good one! Of course! That settled, lets move on to Question #2: How is it packaged? Most of it is packaged in plastic coated cardboard that can't be separated and recycled, or plastic. The plastic containers can be reused if you want to be creative. We used to use them to freeze Christmas cookies or soup, but how many do you really need? They can be recycled, but we know there is already more of that than we'll ever use. I found that some companies are actually doing something about this situation. Here are some links to articles about what they are doing:
After reading the 5 Questions article, I feel that ice cream is a good example of a product to apply that thinking to. Deciding on how to purchase ice cream or an ice cream alternative sustainably is complicated. So, Question #1: Will I eat the food? Haha, ice cream? That's a good one! Of course! That settled, lets move on to Question #2: How is it packaged? Most of it is packaged in plastic coated cardboard that can't be separated and recycled, or plastic. The plastic containers can be reused if you want to be creative. We used to use them to freeze Christmas cookies or soup, but how many do you really need? They can be recycled, but we know there is already more of that than we'll ever use. I found that some companies are actually doing something about this situation. Here are some links to articles about what they are doing:
PICKING THE BEST PACKAGING
PICKING THE BEST PACKAGING
Here is an exerpt from the LIVEKINDLY article:
"Chicago’s woman-owned vegan gelato startup, Sacred Serve, just debuted fully sustainable food packaging for its all-natural ice cream — a first for the U.S. Developed by London’s Delipac over the course of eight years, the fully biodegradable “plastic-free paperboard” combines paper fibers and a water-based moisture barrier instead of a polyethylene coating."
"Major frozen dessert companies such as Ben & Jerry’s are working around the difficulties of ice cream packaging by simply reducing the quantity of plastic used. While in 2020, Magnum launched fully recycled plastic tubs, the first ice cream producer to do so.
But now that Sacred Serve has launched a recyclable option, other companies in the sector — and across the food storage space in general — could utilize the unique biodegradable material for their own products."
https://www.innodelice.com/post/sustainability-initiatives-in-ice-cream
https://www.livekindly.com/sustainable-food-packaging-vegan-ice-cream/
Question #3 - Where was the food grown or produced?
I have noticed that ice cream brands, like dairy products, are sometimes local, and sometimes not. I notice this when I travel, and especially since moving. Brands such as Haagen-Dazs, Breyers, Ben and Jerry's, seem to be found everywhere; while some like Perry's, Turkey Hill and Friendly's are more regional. Brands like Stewarts' have to be purchased at Stewarts' Shops, which I believe, are mostly in the east. So where are the big brands from?
Haagen-Dazs is and American Brand owned by General Mills and produced by Froneri. It's a little hard to determine exactly where it's manufactured: some sources say England, others Canada or Minneapolis. It's owned by a huge conglomerate.
Ben and Jerry's, Breyer's, Talenti and Magnum are owned by Unilever. Ben and Jerry's is made in Vermont, Breyer's is made in Wisconsin. Another huge conglomerate, Unilever has been controversial, partly for it's environmental record.
Edy's / Dreyer's is owned by Nestle. Another multinational conglomerate known for controversial practices.
Baskin Robbins is made in Massachusetts.
Turkey Hill is more regional, sold in NY, PA, OH and IN.
Friendly's was an East Coast restaurant chain that has since gone bankrupt, but the ice cream brand is now owned by Dairy Farmers of America, which is a private company based in the Midwest.
Most of these big brands would pass the criteria for a local company, but not for Question #5, who or what does my money support. Regional companies, such as Turkey Hill and Friendly's might be considered more local if you live in their region. You might have other regional ice creams near you such as Perry's. According to the website that created the 5 Questions, local can mean your home continent, in which case they're all local.
What about non-dairy, or vegan alternatives? Well, they are already better for the environment because they are not animal products, but lets see where they come from. SO delicious is made in Oregon. Earth Grown is an Aldi's product and they source products from all over, Cado is made in Iowa, Ben and Jerry's in Vermont, Planet Oat in Mass., Forager Project in California, Talenti Dairy Free has a page on their website showing that their ingredients come from all over the world. That's something to think about, too. The ice cream product is only the final product, so where the separate ingredients come from matters too. Daiya, Breyers Non-dairy, Nadamoo Dairy Free, Simple Truth, O'My Gelato, Fronen Non-dairy, and Open Nature also have vegan options. All this talk about vegan ice cream brings us right to:
Question #4 How was the food grown or produced?
Animal products are generally unsustainable, and dairy is second only to beef as a polluting food. So Non-dairy options are definitely better than traditional ice cream in this regard. For some brands, see Question #3 above.
Question #5 Who or what does my money support?
While looking for where SO Delicious was made, I stumbled on the B Corporation website! This is a great thing and a great way to find out more about companies!
So what ice cream companies are certified B Corporations? Here are the ones that made the cut: Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream, Frisky Cow Farm Products, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Frankie & Jo's, NadaMoo!, Blue Marble Ice Cream LLC, Clover Sonoma, and Ben and Jerry's. I only included companies in the U.S. and companies that made ice cream, although their list included companies that supplied products used in ice cream, such as chocolate and vanilla. It was nice to see Ben and Jerry's in that list, because I know they are a conscientious company even though they have been bought by Unilever. The link below will take you to the B corp website. You can click on the "Find a B Corp" link, and type in the search box whatever you want. A list of companies will come up, and a very thorough explanation of how each were rated. Could this be the Holy Grail I've been looking for? I need a lot more time to research it! But what a great tool and great effort in the right direction! And by the way, tonight my son told me he tried Ben and Jerry's Non-dairy ice cream and couldn't tell the difference from regular ice cream!
Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter
Who doesn't love peanut butter? Whether it's in a PB & J, ice cream, Thai food, soup or cookies, it's packed with protein, yummy and comforting! But is it good for the planet?
According to Peaceful Dumpling, an online magazine devoted to sustainable living:
" The main thing to look out for in your favorite peanut-butter brand is to make sure there’s absolutely no palm oil in the ingredient list.
Palm oil is incredibly damaging to the environment as it is contributing to deforestation in many parts of Southeast Asia. This deforestation contributes to rising levels of carbon in the atmosphere and also leads to habitat destruction for many native animals, threatening already endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger, the Asian Rhinoceros and the Sumatran Orangutan. Palm oil crops also destroy biodiversity in these regions and are a monoculture that destroys the existing harmonious ecosystems.
Suggestion: Look for brands that use 100% peanut for the lowest environmental footprint."
Here are some good choices: Earth Balance Natural, Santa Cruz Organic, Maranatha Organic, Justin's, Jif Natural, and Skippy Natural, Target's Good & Gather Organic and Trader Joe's Creamy Unsalted.
And check out Peaceful Dumpling at: https://www.peacefuldumpling.com
Bread
Bread
Hold on there! You're probably going to want some bread to put that peanut butter on!
How about some potassium bromate to go along with that? A lot of the packaged breads and baked goods we buy are made with flour that may contain this chemical! Although it has been linked to cancer, it is added to flour to strengthen dough and allow it to rise higher, so it has led many U.S. companies use it. According to the EWG (Environmental Working Group) they have "identified over 130 different products that contain potassium bromate, including Best Choice Wheat Sliced Bread, Gomez Flour Tortillas, Hy Vee Blueberry Crisp and Balducci's Sugar Cookies, among others. The use of this additive in the U.S. is widespread and legal, even though it’s been banned in other countries because of health concerns."
You can read more about it on this link: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2022/05/cancer-causing-chemical-may-be-lurking-your-bread
According to one of my favorite sites, Sustained Kitchen: "If you buy bread from a local bakery, you can ask if... they use local ingredients. Even if they aren’t organic, the reduced food miles might overshadow that.
If you buy pre-packaged bread from the grocery store, organic whole wheat is your best bet. Organic means that no super nasty chemicals were used during farming and whole wheat means that most of the grains aren’t super highly processed.
To make sure your bread is organic, look at the ingredient list on the back of the packaging. On this list there might be an asterisk by all organic ingredients, or it might simply say “organic” in front of the organic ingredients. Like I said before, it’s most important that the flour is organic since it’s the main ingredient.
You should also think about your bread’s packaging. The less plastic, the better.
BOTTOM LINE: GO FOR LOCAL AND/OR ORGANIC 100% WHOLE WHEAT. SKIMP ON THE PACKAGING."
BOTTOM LINE: GO FOR LOCAL AND/OR ORGANIC 100% WHOLE WHEAT. SKIMP ON THE PACKAGING."
Milk and Milk Alternatives
Milk and Milk Alternatives
Now we have our peanut butter and our bread, so we are going to need a glass of milk! But is milk sustainable? Dairy is second only to beef in most rating for worst environmental food. A friend of mine recently tried Almond milk and suggested that I review plant-based milk alternatives. I have been using almond milk for several years, and like the fact that it doesn't spoil as fast as cows milk in the fridge. I'm the only one drinking it, and whenever I would go away for a few days, it would spoil. I was told that oat milk was better because the almond industry uses too much water, so I have recently started using that. I found a whole bunch of charts and graphs online. Dairy was definitely the worst, although organic is better if you must drink cows milk. It's mainly because of the tremendous amounts of water needed to raise and maintain herds of dairy cows. Oat milk was better than almond milk in most cases, as I expected, but then I found another great website that went into all kinds of info and kinds of plant milks I had never heard of! Here's what Sustainable Jungle said:
"The bottom line is that ditching dairy and going plant-based for milk is the single best move you can make.
Beyond that, each alternative is on the spectrum of sustainability, but it’s very tricky to pinpoint exactly where that might be relative to each other.
Having said that, hemp, oats, peas, and potatoes are generally ahead of the rest but all options are better than dairy."
Please go to their website to learn more! Oh, by the way, both almond and oat milk taste fine!
https://www.sustainablejungle.com/sustainable-food/most-sustainable-milk/
Cheese
Cheese
Okay, so we know all about milk and the environment. Or do we? What about other dairy products? What about CHEESE?!! If dairy milk is the worst....oh, no!!! So I went looking for answers, hoping I won't find out that one of my favorite foods is bad for our planet. I found this on Slate: "it turns out that cheese may do as much harm to the environment as some kinds of meat. Based on figures from Sweden, the production of a 1.5-ounce serving of cheese might be expected to produce around 16 ounces of carbon dioxide equivalent. "
Aagghhh! To find out how they figure that, check out their website: https://slate.com/technology/2009/12/what-s-the-environmental-impact-of-cheese.html#:~:text=It%20turns%20out%20that%20cheese,ounces%20of%20carbon%20dioxide%20equivalent.
There is some good news, however. The American dairy industry is trying to cut down on emissions, and while you may prefer to buy fancier cheeses from small producers who can't keep up with the larger manufacturers, as they said, "you will be able to learn more about your cheese if it comes from a small producer."
To learn more about what the dairy industry is doing to make things better, you can read this article:
https://www.tastingtable.com/818270/how-dairy-farmers-are-making-milk-and-cheese-more-sustainable/
What about cheese from goats or sheep? It turns out that goats and cows are about the same for emissions of methane per output, but sheep are worse! What about the type of cheese? " the less processing a cheese undergoes, the easier it’ll be on the planet. All things being equal, younger cheeses are more energy-efficient than older ones, because of the electricity required to keep cheeses at a cool, steady temperature as they age. (That’s true in the United States, at least. In Europe, they make greater use of cool underground caves.) Likewise, soft cheeses will tend to be greener than hard ones, since the latter usually require more milk, more extensive aging processes, and longer cooking at higher temperatures."
Feta is one of the best, also chevre, brie and camembert. Mozzarella is a good choice too, because it doesn't require any aging. What is also important is that if we do buy products like this, that we actually eat them and not waste them. Buy only what you can eat, store them properly, and finish them! And if possible cut down on packaging!
Diving deeper into another website found a differing opinion that producing goat cheese caused less methane gas than cows milk cheese, but more interesting was their report about "Vegan Cheese". https://www.lifestyleasia.com/bk/dining/food/is-vegan-cheese-environmentally-friendly/#:~:text=If%20you're%20a%20fan,for%20one%20liter%20of%20milk.
So much information out there! According to Sustainability Nook: "farming animals to make cheese is a massive strain on the environment....That isn’t to say that you should cut out cheese though. By buying certified organic cheese or cutting down your cheese consumption you can help reduce its emissions."
https://sustainabilitynook.com/is-cheese-bad-for-the-environment/
They also suggested choosing organic, local and vegan. And speaking of vegan again, here's a site with list and ratings of vegan cheeses! I guess I will have to test some of them out (as long as they aren't made with cashews-which I can't eat!) Their top rated are New Roots and Mouses Favourite! I love that name!
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/shopping-guide/vegan-cheese
Beans, Beans, Beautiful Fruit...
Beans, Beans, Beautiful Fruit...
Beans and Rice, 3-Bean Salad, Vegan Chili, Black Bean Soup: beans make eating vegan so much easier and delicious! And healthy too! But should we use canned or dried? I turned again to the Internet for answers.
From Sustained Kitchen:
DRIED BEANS HAVE A SHORTER, LESS ENERGY-INTENSIVE AND MORE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION PROCESS THAN CANNED BEANS. HOWEVER, REMEMBER THAT EACH FARM HAS DIFFERENT SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES THAT COULD MAKE YOUR BEANS MORE OR LESS SUSTAINABLE.
PLASTIC IS EASIER TO MAKE AND TRANSPORT, BUT ALUMINUM HAS FEWER LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY CONCERNS. "PICK YOUR POISON" IS MUCH TOO APPLICABLE.
PLASTIC IS EASIER TO MAKE AND TRANSPORT, BUT ALUMINUM HAS FEWER LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY CONCERNS. "PICK YOUR POISON" IS MUCH TOO APPLICABLE.
DRIED BEANS ARE LIGHTER TO TRANSPORT AND ARE EASIER TO FIND LOCALLY (OR IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!), MAKING THEIR TRANSPORTATION GENERALLY MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN CANNED BEANS.
DRIED BEANS ARE LIGHTER TO TRANSPORT AND ARE EASIER TO FIND LOCALLY (OR IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!), MAKING THEIR TRANSPORTATION GENERALLY MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN CANNED BEANS.
COOKING CANNED BEANS INDUSTRIALLY IS WAYYYY MORE EFFICIENT THAN COOKING DRIED BEANS AT HOME, SO CANNED BEANS ARE GENERALLY THE MOST SUSTAINABLE OPTION.
COOKING CANNED BEANS INDUSTRIALLY IS WAYYYY MORE EFFICIENT THAN COOKING DRIED BEANS AT HOME, SO CANNED BEANS ARE GENERALLY THE MOST SUSTAINABLE OPTION.
You can read the more detailed debate on their website, and it's definitely interesting and well worth the read! Check out the rest of their site for recipes, etc. I know I will!
Being a little lazy, I like that canned beans are considered better, but since there are pros and cons to both, it looks okay to use whichever you prefer.
Now, which canned beans are better??? According to The EWG (more info below) the top scoring Black Bean brands when averaging several criteria were:
Heinen's Organic, Westbrae Natural Organic, Jyoti Organics, Good & Gather (Target), Eden Foods Organic Caribbean, S&W,
Sprouts Farmers Market Organics, 365 Everyday Value, Best Choice Clearly Organic, Brad's Organic No Salt Added, and Bush's Best Organic
EWG= The Environmental Working Group is a community 30 million strong, working to protect our environmental health by changing industry standards. Check them out at https://www.ewg.org/
Mushroom Growing Kit
Mushroom Growing Kit
While researching sustainable products online, I notice a website (there are a lot of them!) ranking the best foods to eat for the planet! I'm sure other sites might have different rankings, but this one said mushrooms were number 1! I love mushrooms and they are great for giving all kinds of dishes that meaty, umami flavor.
For Christmas we received a North Spore Mushroom Kit from our son and daughter-in -law. It was easy and fun to start it and watch it grow! We got 2 "crops" of Pink Oyster Mushrooms, and they were SOOOO good! According to their website, we can plant it outside in the spring, and we might get another crop!
Here is a link North Spore: https://northspore.com
Okay, we know using palm oil is not good. What about other oils? How about Coconut Oil?
It turns out that it can be okay, but it depends on who is picking the coconuts. Here's another good article from Peaceful Dumpling: ttps://www.peacefuldumpling.com/what-you-should-know-about-coconut-oil-and-animal-exploitation
Here is a great link from a friend about how the way we eat affects us and the world: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/win-win-dietary-solutions-to-the-climate-crisis/
Please watch this video (it's short!) and if you have something to share, please do. You can put it in the comments on my daily post. It's this kind of sharing and cooperation that can make the difference!
Terms
Terms
Non GMO: grown and processed without genetic modification nongmoproject.org
Organic: produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.” Food produced in this way can be labeled with the USDA symbol and sold as 'organic.
Fair Trade: Fairtrade Certified it means that they were produced in accordance with Fairtrade International's rigorous environmental, economic and social standards. This is independently verified through regular audits by an accredited third-party auditor, FLOCERT.
Sustainable: typically involves a business owner investing in a program that lays out a handful of green initiatives to be completed or added to a project launch.
Cage Free vs. Free Range: The most significant difference between eggs from cage-free and free range hens is outdoor access. Put simply, free range hens have it, while cage-free hens don't. But with outdoor access come so many other benefits to hens—most notably, the ability to display their natural behaviors.
Here's a really good article about labeling from Sustained Kitchen: https://www.sustained.kitchen/latest/2019/2/6/pros-and-cons-of-eco-labeling
So what brands of chocolate are good for the environment, or sustainable? According to another good article about chocolate in The Earthbound Report by Jeremy Williams:
Look out for Fairtrade chocolate, Rainforest Alliance certification, or better yet, smallholder-owned brands such as Divine. The brand Green and Black’s are Fairtrade, organic, and have invested specifically in shade grown cocoa. There are lots of smaller chocolate producers these days, so have a look around and see what you like that’s making a difference.
Here's the full article: https://earthbound.report/2022/09/21/why-does-chocolate-have-a-high-carbon-footprint/#comments
To make it even easier to be good, there are symbols on packages denoting Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, organic, etc.
According to another great green website, Leafscore,
these are their top 5 picks: Beyond Good, Pacari, Theo,
Alter Ego, and Seed and Bean Dark Chocolate.
Their website looks like a great resource and I intend to read a lot more of it. I'm really encouraged that I'm finding so many websites with so much information because it means that there are actually a lot of like minded people who care about the health of our planet!
Chocolate
Chocolate
We LOVE chocolate!!!! At least I do! But is eating chocolate good for the earth? Here's what WWF- World Wildlife Fund- Magazine had to say:
Cocoa farmers usually clear tropical forests to plant new cocoa trees rather than reusing the same land. That practice has spurred massive deforestation in West Africa, particularly in Ivory Coast. Experts estimate that 70% of the country's illegal deforestation is related to cocoa farming.
Oh NOOO!!!!!!! But the article went on:
Despite the cocoa industry’s challenges, there’s hope. Experts have identified a number of farming techniques that could boost the productivity of existing cocoa farms, reducing the need for clearing more forests. Additionally, candy company Mars has mapped the cocoa genome, leading to trees that are three to four times more productive than varieties often used in West Africa; they can also be more climate resistant.
WWF works with the world's biggest chocolate companies to improve cocoa production. One, Barry Callebaut, processes 22% of chocolate globally. In November 2016, the company unveiled Forever Chocolate, a suite of sustainability goals for 2025. The goals include achieving zero child labor and deforestation in its supply chains; replanting 2.5 million acres of cocoa on existing cocoa plantations; using 100% sustainable ingredients in all products; and lifting 500,000 producers out of poverty.
To read the full article and learn more about WWF:
I have taken it upon myself to taste test some of the sustainable brands I have found at my local stores as well.
Such a sacrifice! They are all delicious! Try Perugine, Equal Exchange, Ritter Sport, and Hannaford's Taste of Inspirations.
I have also tried the highly rated Lake Champlain Chocolates, when on a vacation in Vermont. They are very good, and the factory tour was fun, too!
Here's another great link to Eco Home about how what we eat impacts the planet, and some changes we can make:
Flour
Flour
The link is from King Arthur Flour, so of course they promote their brand, but it also explains why using other types of flour, like rye and buckwheat, are better for the earth.
Full of great sounding recipes, too. It made hungry just reading it!
Thank you, Karen for sharing this!
And more about grains: "Cooking with millet instead of rice-
Millet has been referred to as 'the new quinoa'. Once considered to be little more than bird food in western societies, it has graduated to being a trendy superstar grain. Millet has been a staple grain all over the planet for decades, so what is so special about it? Other than its awesome taste and ease in cooking, it is extremely drought-resistant and uses very little water. As a matter of fact, it has the lowest water requirement of all the common grains we eat. Conversely, rice is one of the more commonly consumed grains and requires a lot more water to produce.
A study revealed that in areas of iodine deficiency where millet is a great component of the diet, its ingestion may impart the start of endemic goiter. Therefore, if you have any thyroid concerns, it is advised that you consult your healthcare provider before including large amounts of millet in your diet. Aside from millet, you can also incorporate amaranth into your menu, which is high in nutritional value but also very drought-resistant with low water demand when compared to rice."
So I'm going to try amaranth and some other grains, and let you know what I learn. I have already tried Quinoa, barley, couscous, farro, kasha, steel cut oats and bulgar wheat. They were a nice change. It's fun trying new things! Here's a link to Eco Home:
https://www.ecohome.net/.../food-and-climate-change-what.../
Update: I have tried Millet and it is very good with a texture similar to couscous, in my opinion.
Canned Tomatoes
Canned Tomatoes
How about some tomatoes for all of those recipes that call for whole. diced, crushed, puree and paste? A search for info found Tomato Wellness who said
"Canned tomatoes are harvested at their flavor and nutrition peak and canned within just a few hours. Plus, they are quite affordable, meaning that this is a budget-friendly, easy, and convenient option for you and your family. In addition to the affordability of canned tomatoes, they are rich in vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly and can help boost energy and reduce the risk of certain diseases. In fact, studies have shown that canned tomatoes are even more nutrient-rich and environmentally-friendly than fresh tomatoes. And, as people continue to cook from the comfort of their own homes, canned tomatoes have grown in popularity thanks to their ease of use, high nutrition content, and a variety of forms (like tomato sauce, tomato paste, marinara sauce, salsa, and diced, stewed and whole tomatoes). Since fresh tomatoes can cost more–especially during the fall/winter/spring–you’re better off using canned/jarred tomato products for dishes in which the texture of fresh isn’t important, such as pasta dishes, pizza, lasagnas, curry, soups, stews, and casseroles and you want that PEAK of season flavor and nutrition."
https://tomatowellness.com/is-fresh-really-best-heres-why-canned-tomatoes-reign-supreme/
So what is the sustainable choice? A look at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website's food score chart for diced tomatoes shows these brands with the best ratings:
Muir Glen, Red Gold, Tuttorosso, Hunts, 365, Full Circle, Green Way, Racconto,
Simple Truth, Woodstock, Best Choice, Del Monte, Heinen's, Meijer, O Organics, Shoprite, Take Root and Wild Harvest, in that order.
Most were organic, but some were not; some I had never heard of, but some I have bought many times and some are store brands. Their criteria factors in nutrition as well as sustainability, and may vary by type ( whole, crushed, etc.) You can check them out here:
I think it's safe to say that organic is generally better for the environment, as putting pesticides and chemicals in the soil is bad, as are genetically modified foods. So check for the non GMO symbol. It's good to see that there are lots of good choices that aren't too expensive!
So what about some of the major brands we are used to seeing at the grocery store? Well, if you go to their websites, they will tell you about all the wonderful things they are doing for the environment or the coffee farmers, but independent reviewers tell a different story. Maybe they are getting on board and trying, but look for the Fair Trade symbol.
Coffee
Coffee
It seems like every time I look into a different food product, I learn something new! Bird Friendy Coffee? It's a thing! According to an article on the Sustained Kitchen website:
"While many traditional coffee farms are monocultures with little diversity, Bird Friendly farms house a wide variety of foliage, including ample shade cover. Bird Friendly coffee is also socially sustainable because it allows growers to increase their prices and earn more for their crops." https://www.sustained.kitchen/latest/2020/11/11/is-your-coffee-bird-friendly
They have a link to The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, who certifies the coffee brands who qualify, so you can find stores in your zipcode that sell those brands. https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/find-bird-friendly-coffee-retailer-near-you
I also checked on leafscore.com, who rate the sustainability of just about anything you can think of. They have a list of their 12 most sustainable, and bird-friendliness, is indeed very important. Here's their top picks: Larry's Coffee, Ethical Bean, Cafe Mam, Higher Ground Roasters, Conscious Coffees, Salt Spring Coffee, Cafedirect, Grumpy Mule, Rise Up Coffee Roasters, Wandering Bear Coffee Company, Equal Exchange, and Red Bay Coffee, in that order.
To find out more, I googled sustainable coffee, and found Fairtrade America. If you go to their website, you can find many more coffee brands that are Fair Trade certified, although they might not all be shade grown and bird friendly. Some are store brands, too, like Trader Joe's, Central Market Organics, and Kirkland Signature. What is Fair Trade? When you buy fair trade, you are not only protecting the environment, you are combatting poverty, standing up for workers rights, promoting gender equality, fighting child labor, and creating more resilient communities. So much good can be done by knowledgeable purchasing!
https://www.fairtradeamerica.org/shop-fairtrade/fairtrade-products/coffee/
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