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Go Green!

Feed Your Family Healthfully & Save the Planet Too!

Earth Day is April 22. How does that tie in with good nutrition?

News reports are on the increase that eating less meat, especially red meat, is healthy for the environment because less methane gas would be produced by cattle and sheep that are bred for human consumption.

This is only one of the many ways that we can help our children understand the need for healthy food consumption for both person and planet.

Here are some other ways, adapted from suggestions from the Slow Food USA group…

How to Teach Our Kids About Healthy Food Consumption

Avoid foods with long lists of ingredients you can't identify and can't pronounce. These foods usually are heavily processed, and have lots of sodium and other additives.
Shop at local farmers' markets whenever possible. Get there early for the freshest, best deals.
Cook at least one regular meal at home with your family. Try eating together, without a television in the background.
Be knowledgeable about where the family food comes from and how it was produced.
Examine supermarket produce. If you have a choice between asparagus that was grown in your home state versus asparagus flown in from halfway across the world, choose local. It saves fuel consumption, which in turn can save the planet.
Buy organic whenever possible and affordable.
When shopping for produce, try to conserve the plastic bags. Use as few as possible. Bring reusable bags to the grocery store and use them instead of plastic.
Visit a local farm and see how local food products are made and grown.
Make it a point to visit fruit and produce farms to pick your own products. This is such a fun family activity—my family and I go blueberry picking every year and it has become a tradition that we really look forward to. We pick enough blueberries to freeze and last for months!

About Donna

Donna S. Roy is the Regional Point dietitian for DaVita PDI South Dialysis Center in Houston, TX. She has over 20 years experience in dietetics, research, food service administration, and tobacco/chronic disease prevention. She holds a Master’s Degree in Nutrition, and is a registered, licensed dietitian. Donna lives in Houston with her husband Jeff and two children, Gavin (13 yrs) and Melanie (10 yrs). Both children are first chair saxophone and flute players, respectively. Her most prized position is that of mother—she loves spending time with her kids and tries to provide them the best childhood possible. She is an active member of the school PTO groups, and most recently is involved in fund-raising in order for Gavin and his school band to attend Carnegie Hall to perform next spring. Donna’s hobbies include singing in her church choir, writing, exercise, and gardening.