As a pasty, chubby Irish lad who enjoys good comfort food and even better comfort beer, I've figured I would take a few key "monikers" of what I've learned over the past few years in this business to help explain what I think we as a society where we should be moving towards in food.
1. Eat more Veggies: Meat takes 10 times more energy to produce than plants, so your carbon footprint will ultimately decrease on shifting about 20-30 percent of your diet to plants and vegetables. You can start a garden without much knowledge of “gardening”. Diets with high concentration in green, leafy vegetables have been proven as a superior diet than those concentrated in meats. Mom was always right with this.
2. Don’t eat out as often: We, as a society, eat out way too much. I’m personally vested in the large retail business of eating and I’m constantly astounded with the sheer volume of fiscal waste when it comes to eating. I’m not saying to stop enjoying the pleasure of dining with family and friends, I’m saying to do it less often and cherish the moments you have the luxury to partake in the experience. My wife and I use “date night” as our opportunity to enjoy the time away from our kitchen and to support our local restaurant operators and community farms.
3. Scratch “All” processed foods from your diet: This has been a tough one for me. I have a self proclaimed sweet tooth that I received from my mother and have to work daily to cancel the craving that chocolate confections has on my soul. I’m not saying to totally deny yourself of the pleasures of sweets, I’m just saying that it shouldn’t be a staple in your diet and take a significant amount of your calories in your overall consumption. Try making your owns sweets and guilty pleasures at home, you will most likely eat less and enjoy the experience, smells and theatre.
4. Shop at your local farmers markets and/or food Coops: My wife and I now purchase most of our grocery items from the farmer’s market. I understand how many people do not have access to these options and aren’t fortunate enough to meet the people that grow their food. If you don’t have the opportunity to shop at a farm, Coop or market, ask your local grocer what products in the store are supplied by reputable, regional distributors and/or farms. Most grocers are now hopping on the bandwagon and will generally steer you into that direction.
5. Learn how to cook and plan your meals: It’s a simple as it gets folks. Learn how to cook. By learning the basics of cooking, you will save money and be able to control what you are putting into your bodies. Planning ahead also allows you to be creative and have fun with your food, while saving money.
More ill-prescribed thoughts coming soon!
