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A simple dinner swap can cut your carbon footprint.
Dear Reader,
We want the most impact for our choices, right? Lucky for us, we can get that easily and deliciously, simply by adjusting what we put on our plates.
The What: Swapping beef for fish can have a dramatic effect on the Earth … and our health, even just once a week. According to a study cited in The Anthropocene, “Making one simple change to the average UK diet — swapping a beef steak for a piece of salmon once weekly — could cut each person’s emissions by 7.3 kilograms [16 pounds] of CO2 per week, adding up [in one year] to enough to offset the emissions of an international return flight.”
The Why: Raising cattle takes its toll on Mother Earth. Not only do cows contribute more methane to the atmosphere from their digestion (and methane is 28x more potent than carbon), but also, they contribute significantly to deforestation.
The How: Look for recipes focused on fish, such as this Acadian Redfish With Coconut Lime Red Sauce or this Classic New England Whitefish Chowder. You’ll find lots more in Bluedot Kitchen.
The More: Our pal Hannah Ritchie at Our World in Data notes that what we eat has a bigger impact on the planet than how far it travels to us and what it’s packaged in. Nonetheless, it’s worth shopping locally in order to support our community farmers and fishermen. And avoiding packaging — especially plastic — is better for our planet and our bodies.
Bonus Just One Thing: How to Feel Rich
Laura Edenfield replied to Dot’s query about what readers do to “feel rich” following Thursday, August 20th’s Quote of the Day: “Upon turning 73 1/2, I am required to take a Required Minimum Distribution from my IRA. My financial advisor helped me set up a checking account where I can now write my charitable contributions from this account, thus allowing all of it to go to causes I support instead of taxes. I feel rich every time I write a nice-sized check to nonprofits that I know are making a difference. Being able to give makes me feel rich!”
Donating to nonprofits that do the work we want to see is a great Just One Thing. Thanks Laura.
Swimmingly,
Dot
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