Discover new ways to eat and cook!

The health and environmental downsides of eating too much meat can pose a real challenge to us meat-and-potatoes raised Americans. Here are six great ways to naturally and gradually shift your focus to fresh, local produce, fish, and poultry–and keep those steaks (grass-fed of course) and fries as an occasional treat.

ONE: Join Meatless Monday
According to the Environmental Defense Fund, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads. Says Chris Mentzel, CEO of Clean Energy, “A 1% reduction in world-wide meat intake has the same benefit as a three trillion-dollar investment in solar energy.” The national Meatless Monday project of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of public health makes it easy to get on board. Check out the Meatless Monday Santa Cruz chapter own local chapter

TWO: Take a cooking class
One of the many great ways to enjoy fresh, local food is to learn new cooking and food preparation skills.

THREE: Shop the farmers’ markets
Get in the habit of doing a regular shopping at one of the local farmers markets. It’s a great way to get inspired to focus your meals on more veggies and to find fresh, local, organic in-season produce. The more you eat it, the more you want it! And if you can’t find something you’re looking for at the farmers market, it’s probably not in season. If you do find it at a supermarket it was likely imported from way too far away.

FOUR: Order a vegetarian meal
Try our local dining guides and select vegetarian options, or try one of our local veggie-only restaurants.
Monterey dining guide
Santa Cruz dining guide
Meat-free restaurants

FIVE: Join a CSA
A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) gives you direct access to high-quality, fresh produce, eggs, seafood and meat grown locally by regional farmers. When you become a member of a CSA, you purchase a “share” of products and you can either pick up from the farm or the farmer delivers to a convenient drop-off location in your neighborhood. Local food, local farmers, fresh food, your money stays in the community, no middlemen.

SIX: Grow your own
Nothing will inspire you to add more veggies to your diet than growing your own. Greens and herbs are especially easy to grow, even in pots on the patio.

Eco-guide to living lighter

6 Easy ways to eat less red meat

6 Easy ways to eat less red meat

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