This year’s theme for Earth Day 2020 on Wednesday, April 22nd, is to take action on Climate Change. Two ways to take action on climate change related to food and eating are to:
- Eat at more plant-based foods, and
- Reduce food waste.
Read on for environmentally friendly choices that make for healthy habits that include making a commitment to eating more plant-based foods and reduce food waste.
Astonishingly, food systems account for 25 percent for climate change from greenhouse gas emissions generated by consumer economies in industrialized countries. Did you know that 30-40 percent of food we buy is wasted? Developing healthy habits and eating more plant-based foods can make a difference.
7 Environmentally Friendly Healthy Habits
- Eat more healthy plant-based foods. How?
- Double the amount of low-calorie fruits and vegetables you eat (unless you already eat way more than most Americans).
- Eat more protein from plant sources. Eat less red meat from beef, sheep, and goats Choose meatless protein foods like beans (legumes) such as black beans, garbanzo beans, lentils, kidney beans, navy beans and others.
- Eat whole grains instead of refined grains.
- Buy organic foods to avoid unnecessary or harmful pesticides and antibiotics.
- Reduce food waste. Buy what you’ll eat and eat what you buy. Buy fewer packaged foods. Recycle.
- Lose weight and save money. Buy and eat less food if you need to lose weight. Burn off more calories with physical activity.
- Walk or bicycle everywhere you can.
- Consolidate shopping trips.
Creating healthy habits is better for you, your family, and the environment.
Enjoy this plant-based recipe, for Moroccan Lentils with Stewed Tomatoes courtesy of Chef Amy Riolo:
Moroccan Lentils with Stewed Tomatoes
- 1 cup brown lentils, sorted, rinsed, and drained
- 1 cup chopped low-sodium canned or boxed no-salt-added tomatoes
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- Place lentils in a medium saucepan, and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to low, and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside. (This step may be done a day ahead of time.)
- Combine lentils, tomatoes, onion, coriander, salt, and pepper in a large saucepan. Add 1 cup water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
- Add cilantro, and stir. Serve hot.
- Calories 90
- Calories from Fat 0
- Total Fat 0.0 g
- Saturated Fat 0.0 g
- Trans Fat 0.0 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 125 mg
- Potassium 330 mg
- Total Carbohydrate 16 g
- Dietary Fiber 6 g
- Sugars 2 g
- Protein 6 g
- Phosphorus 130 mg
Enjoy these delicious and easy, healthy recipes even if you’re not a diabetic from The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbookby Amy Riolo.
You may want to check out my easy healthy recipes for plant foods like Roasted Brussels Sprouts from one of our other blog posts.
I have joined the Foodprints for the Future Campaign to help spread the word about the relationship between food choices and climate change. Will you join me?
For Earth Day 2020, the Foodprints for the Future campaign will be sharing plant-based cooking demonstrations from renowned chefs, animal sanctuary tours, a panel discussion about climate change and our diets, and more! For more about Foodprints for the Future click here.
Check out their Foodprints for the Future plant-based recipes here.
Please visit earthday.org for more information.
Sources:
Amy Riolo, The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook, The American Diabetes Association, Arlington, Va., 2019.
Award-Winning, Best-Selling Author, Chef, Television Personality, Cuisine and Culture Expert, Columnist, Mediterranean Diet Advocate
Blog: www.amyriolo.blogspot.com
Website: www.amyriolo.com
Click hereto purchase one of Amy’s amazing cookbooks.
Earth Day: earthday.org.
To your Joy and Health,
Kay Loughrey, MPH, RDN, LDN
Transformational Speaker, Breakthrough Coach, Nutritionist-Dietitian