Meat

We are meat eaters. A lot of people think because you eat healthy you have to be vegitarians, that is far from the truth. What you do have to watch is where your meat comes from.

I can't say more than anything else but meat, the kind most of us eat, is enhanced, manipulated and man-handled. In addition to that the big American farms use an extraordinary amount of resources to raise consumable meat. Most of the grain grown in America is grown for animal feed.

The 7 billion livestock animals in the United States consume five times as much grain as is consumed directly by the entire American population

We've known the ratio of energy to pound of meat production was outrageously high for at least a decade. This energy required doesn't include the amount of water required and because of all of these factors my mother-in-law has started to avoid meat when she doesn't know whether it is grass-fed and/or free range.

Ideal Bite has some options. At the very least we need to talk to our butchers and fish mongers. Ask them where the meat comes from. Ask them if they have or can get free range and/or grass-fed meat.

I was listening to Barbara Kingsolver on Speaking of Faith and she talked about how all of these ideas of organic, locally produced, grass-fed, and what-not are considered elite eating now when just about 40 years ago they were the standard. We must get back to that. The food will be cheaper, taste better and help correct the damage done to our natural environs.

C3 Campaign - Eat Local and save the world!

Did you know that most food in supermarkets travels 1500 miles and generates 5 to 17 times more carbon emissions than food grown locally? Or that big box retailers only put $14 back into the local economy for every $100 spent in their stores, but locally owned businesses put back $45 of that same $100? How about that small farms use far less pesticides than large farms?
The Center for a New American Dream knows that every individual can have a significant impact on the environment, and our new Carbon Conscious Consumer (or C3) campaign makes that impact visual. Each month from July to December c3.newdream.org will highlight a new, simple way each individual can make an impact, plus show the difference each person makes both individually and along with the people they’ve influenced.
This month, reduce your carbon footprint by eating 1 pound of food locally. You’ll reduce carbon emissions, pesticides, even packaging, all while helping your local economy. Then, increase your impact by spreading the word. The participant who convinces the most people to take on the challenge will win a landscaping package that features local plants, herbs, and vegetables. Find out more at c3.newdream.org

Green & Black's Goodness

When I first started this blog I couldn't decide whether I wanted to call it Black & Green or Green & Black. I decided on Black & Green with the knowledge that some of the finest chocolates I have ever tasted come from Green & Black's I didn't want to take the chance of infringement. Of course, now that I am touting their glory maybe I can get some samples. Please?!?! Thanks to Marjorie for reminding me to mention them. And Marjorie I will share them with you if I get any.

If you are used to Hershey's, even their new found appreciation for dark chocolate, you have no concept of what a treat and shock you are in for the first time you try Green & Black's. Even knowing this I was flabbergasted when my adorable wife brought home some of their ice cream. You do not understand the glory of chocolate ice cream until you try some of this. Words do not suffice.

You must try Green & Black's!

From their website:

From those early days back in Portobello, London, it's unlikely Craig & Jo could have envisaged what a huge success Green & Black's would become. Today, we remain true to their original values of ethical trading & organic products and our aim continues to be the creation of chocolate products that gives a taste experience like no other. We believe every new creation has to be the best of its kind we've ever tasted & take time and care to bring out the intense flavor that has now become our trademark.

Food

Mmmmm, food. Sometimes there is nothing better than a good (fill in the blank). This is also an area you can have the most impact with the smallest amount of effort.

Think about the food we eat. It comes from somewhere, it takes energy to produce and it creates waste. It impacts how you feel, which impacts what you do and so on.

In my household we eat organic and local foods as much as possible. My wife is a major proponent of all things organic. When we met I ate some organic food, used some organic items but I didn't really go out of my way. She does most of the shopping so the percentage of organic in my life has increased greatly. Why do we eat organic (or use organic products)? It's all about reducing the amount of chemicals we use, ingest, or require because of the manufatured goods we buy. And what does that matter? Well, selfishly we want to live as long as possible. In addition to that we feel a responsibility to our community. We believe that everyone in the community must do a share to make the world a better place. Why does that matter? Because that's what being a part of a community is about. Sen. Hillary Clinton wrote a book...It Takes a Village. From what I know of the book it takes the concept from traditional societies, in particular African societies, that a group (community, society, neighborhood, family, take your pick) will work best only when everyone works together. In sports and in the military you hear things like "you are only as strong as your weakest link". This concept, this ideal is the most practical and most efficient way to survive.

Here are some of the things we do:

1. Eat organic and local as much as possible and hopefully organic and local are the same thing.
2. Eat what's in season (farmer's markets are great places to learn this info).
3. Support a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).
4. Avoid chains and fast food.
5. Compost fruit and veggie scraps.
6. Cook as often as possible, freeze and/or take the leftovers to work.
7. Eat more fruits & veggies, less meat.