Eat Better, Save the Planet and Yourself

Today on NPR, Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep interviewed The New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman (listen to interview). In his new book Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating, Bittman claims we could reduce the environmental impact of industrial farming by eating less animal products.

According to Bittman, Americans raise and slaughter 10 billion animals each year for consumption. "All industrial farming--from fish farming to chicken farming to egg and dairy farming--has an environmental impact," Bittman says.

Bittman claims reducing our consumption of animal products by just 10 percent would have an environmental impact as well as an impact on all of our mutual health.

Bittman discussed alternatives to traditional meals--including the classic American breakfast of eggs and bacon. He suggested starting your day with a bowl of oatmeal--with an Asian-inspired twist.

Try adding a drizzle of soy sauce, sliced scallions and freshly ground pepper to your oatmeal. Bittman also suggests folding in leftover chopped vegetables, like mushrooms, or raw tender greens, such as spinach, and let them wilt a bit.

For a Western flare, add a spoonful of chunky salsa and grated cheese to your oatmeal, and top it poached or fried egg for special treat.

I’m always looking for different ways to prepare oatmeal, one of my favorite foods. My oatmeal recipes generally include fruits or nuts--but apparently, I haven’t been thinking outside the proverbial box.

Bittman, by the way, lost 50 pounds by levels by cutting meat and processed foods out of two of his three daily meals. He also lowered his cholesterol and blood sugar levels by making simple changes in his eating habits.

Bittman's Food Matters includes a month's worth of meal plans and delicious recipes such as spinach and sweet potato salad with warm bacon dressing, breakfast bread pudding, meatloaf with bulgur and ground beef, brown rice pudding with coconut, chicken not pie, and more.

Why does this matter to you? Because you can eat better and save the planet at the same time! After all, reducing the amount of animal products you eat by a mere 10 percent isn’t too much of a sacrifice. Substitute some animal protein in your diet with plant proteins, such as legumes and nuts and seeds. And rememebr to stay away from junk food and refined carbohydrates.