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Posted by Jamie McIntosh Jul 24, 2008 |
There are few of us who aren’t aware of the fuel crisis we face. Soaring fuel costs trickle down to raise the cost of everything we buy and every activity we engage in. It’s exciting to read about the new hybrid vehicle technologies, and I’m glad technology is providing us with some answers to our gas-hogging cars and trucks, but not everyone can afford to exchange his vehicle for one of the newer hybrids.
However, researchers at Cornell University suggest an absurdly simple way to cut fossil fuel energy use. By reducing our average caloric intake from an estimated 3,700 calories to a healthier 2,500 calories, we may cut fuel consumption in our food system by half. It’s easy to make this change by eating less of the foods that are the worst for the environment and our waistbands, namely, meat and processed foods.
No one needs to become an overnight vegan. You can make a positive change by substituting one meat dish per week with a vegetarian choice. Make a hearty casserole with beans or tofu and cheese, and you won’t miss the meat.
When you do buy meat, opt for one organically certified meat product at the store each time you shop. When you do, you support farmers who grow organic grains used to feed the animals. You also place a vote with your dollars, which lets manufacturers know that we consumers do care about how they produce food, and we want grocers to increase the healthy, organic choices on our shelves.