Your diet can make a difference to the environment – as well as your health! We evaluate recent science and greenhouse gas impact of eating a more plant-based and/or organic and/or local diet, as well as implications of grass-fed versus grain-fed beef, aquaculture, and greenhouse foods, and the impact of discarded food. We also describe tasty options to green your diet in a healthy way.
| Action | Climate Change Impact | Other Environmental and Personal Impacts |
| Plant-based diet | 4+ tons/year (70% of diet) | Water use, water eutrophication, land use Health benefits: heart disease, cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure, lung, liver and kidney diseases, Parkinson’s disease, etc. |
| Organic foods | Fruits, vegetables: <=2/3 ton (20-25% of diet) | Water eutrophication, pollinator survival Health Benefits: allergies, asthma, cancer |
| Reduce food discards | <=1 ton (30% of diet) | Benefits: Reduced cost |
| Local Foods | <=1/3 ton (10% of diet) | Benefit: Local business and farmers |
| Grass-fed vs. Grain-fed beef Aquaculture Greenhouses | Not quantified, but scientific research is discussed | Research evaluates environmental impact of traditional versus alternative methods of farming. |