Eat Well for the Earth

Earth Day, which is April 22^nd, is a nationwide and world-wide event which raises awareness of environmental issues and concerns.  The website Earth Day.org has a carbon footprint calculator   http://www.earthday.org/footprint-calculator  that walks you through your housing, car usage, food purchasing and other lifestyle habits, and shows how many acres of Earth’s productive area are needed to support your current lifestyle.  It’s pretty interesting (plus you get to create your own avatar :) ) and also rather eye-opening.  

  

There are many ways an individual can support the environment:  recycle more and buy fewer things that are heavily packaged; use reusable bags or grocery totes; ride your bike more and use your car less often; beware of “vampire” electrical usage (power used by appliances when they are plugged in but not in use).  In addition, your food and nutrition choices can impact the environment.  Eating locally and in season, and reducing meat and other animal product consumption, can both play a role in reducing one’s carbon footprint.

Eating local at UB:

Pride of New York

Campus Dining & Shops supports sustainable living practices on campus, and is a member of the Pride of New York program.  CDS purchases both ingredients and foods from local producers. The Pride of New York logo and signs are displayed in locations where local food and beverage products are sold.

Farmers Markets

Another great way to find local, seasonal food is by utilizing the many area farmers markets.  There are several in the Buffalo area and suburbs.  Some of the ones that are close to campus or even on campus include:

University Community Farmers Market
University at Buffalo South Campus, Near Main & Kenmore
June thru Oct., 8am to 1pm

          
 
Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market                             

Bidwell Parkway and Elmwood Ave.

May thru Dec, Saturdays 8am-1pm

North Tonawanda Farmers’ Market

Payne at Robinson St. North Tonawanda

Open year round - 7am-1pm Tuesday, Thursday, Sat.

About 8 miles from both north and South Campus

There are many other markets in the western NY area – check out the Department of Ag and Markets for locations of farmers markets all over NY state:  http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AP/CommunityFarmersMarkets.asp

Reducing Meat Consumption:
Meatless Mondays
The Carbon Footprint of meat is believed to be responsible for 25% of CO2, 65% of methane and 90% of nitrous oxide emitted into the atmosphere.   Meatless Monday is an international movement to help people reduce their meat consumption by 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of the planet.  The occasional meatless meal can help conserve resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.  It doesn’t have to be a Monday, but any day where you replace a meat product you’d normally eat with something meatless.  There are some great options here on campus – veggie burgers, hummus, vegetable pizza, plus different vegetarian options offered regularly in the dining halls.  If you live off-campus and cook for yourself, there are all sorts of meatless menu ideas:   grilled Portobello mushroom sandwich, pasta with beans, veggie chili, tofu stir-fry, lentil soup – any many more.    For more info on this meatless movement, check out www.meatlessmonday.com.  For vegetarian recipes, go to www.vrg.org.
So if you don’t do meatless already, give it a try!   

Celebrate Earth Day this year knowing that the choices you make can make a difference!