Eat a low carbon lunch to combat global warming

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Lunch for most of us is a quick meal to sustain our energy throughout the day, a nutritional pit stop between breakfast and dinner. But it can be so much more. You can actually reduce global warming by the food choices you make.

The Bon Appétit Management Company Foundation has a nifty low carbon diet calculator that you can use to estimate the environmental cost of your meal choices. It offers a combination of menu items, ingredients and sample meals that you place in a virtual pan. Then you get instant feedback on the amount of carbon emissions it took to produce your meal choice.

This is not a trivial exercise. According to the Foundation, our food system is responsible for one third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental damage can result from how food is raised, processed and transported.

But you can make a difference by knowing the carbon impacts of the foods you select, and switching to alternatives that taste just as good but cause fewer carbon emissions. Knowledge is the key, and that’s where the carbon calculator can help.

It’s an easy-to-use tool, and the FAQs explain in detail the science behind the colorful graphics, as well as the limitations of the calculator.

But even if the science seems a bit overwhelming, the tips on how to make the transition to a low carbon diet are simple to follow.

Perhaps the easiest way to start is to consume all the food you buy, so the energy it takes to get it to you isn’t wasted. Plus, spoiled food that isn’t composted winds up in a landfill and produces methane, a very potent greenhouse gas.

Another tip is to reduce your use of processed and packaged foods, which involve a lot of energy to manufacture. Also, try and reduce your consumption of beef and cheese. According to Bon Appétit, livestock production causes 18 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Most importantly, know where your food comes from, and look for locally-produced foods in season. Farmers’ markets are a great place to purchase local food, and many Portland markets and food co-ops now routinely list the origin of their produce to help you make an informed choice.

So the next time you eat lunch, stop and consider that it can be more than a meal. It can also be an opportunity for you to take a small but significant step to reduce climate change.