Our American diets have become extraordinarily unhealthy and we are the most obese country on the planet.  In general this is due to highly processed foods containing large amounts of sugars and simple carbohydrates as well as the plethora of fast food restaurants and large portions.  There are other trends in food that affect our health and our planet as well.  The production of one pound of beef requires 10X the amount of land and water than a pound of vegetables.  However, this doesn’t mean you need to become a vegetarian to make responsible food choices.  Although you can get all of the protein and nutrients that you need with a careful vegetarian or vegan diet, humans have evolved to be omnivores and animal products are fine for consumption.  We should, however, reduce the amount of meat in our diets as well as be aware of how that meat is raised and what is fed to the animals it comes from.

    1. Buy local – this is the most important concept regarding diet.Local foods, whether they are organic or not, require significantly less energy to package and transport than the same food grown elsewhere.
    2. Buy organic – Pesticides and hormones are found in our foods in high enough levels to be detected in our urine.Nobody knows the full long-term effects of these agents on the human body, but there is evidence to show that high levels can be harmful.  Also, it has been estimated that organic foods use 20% less energy in their production, saving fossil fuels and decreasing CO2 emissions.
    3. Buy responsibly raised/caught meats - Free-range chicken and eggs and grass fed beef are a good and widely available start.  Check out Patagonia's “Oceans as Wilderness” campaign for responsibly harvested fishing as the current prediction is that we will no longer have commercially fishable waters with 40 years.  The Blue Ocean Institute has a “Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood” with ratings of sustainability in different types of seafood (These can be downloaded or sometimes picked up at Patagonia stores).
    4. Buy fair trade – Fair trade certified foods (coffee and chocolate are currently widely available) are meant to ensure that the money you pay will end up back in the hands of the farmers that grow it.The fair trade system is extensively used in Europe and has been shown to significantly improve the living conditions, the education levels, healthcare, and the economies of these communities.

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