Use Your Kitchen to Fight Climate Change

I’m writing from Vermont, where people are rebuilding roads and salvaging their homes after the latest in a series of heavy rains and floods. Small farmers continue to grapple with submerged fields. A friend who works on one of those farms recently told me,

“I am so anxious about climate change, sometimes it keeps me awake at night.”

She’s not alone. “Climate anxiety” is now a thing. And for good reason. Let’s review what happened just last month, July 2024:

Hurricane Beryl knocked out power in three million Houston households.
The two hottest days on Earth were recorded.
Nineteen wildfires raged across California.
The Jasper National Park fire remained out of control in British Columbia.
Deluges burst dams and flooded Vermont communities – multiple times, for the second consecutive year.

We have the power to fight climate change. Every day. With every meal.

The prescription for climate anxiety, researchers at Harvard and Yale tell us, is to figure out what we can control, then act upon it. But how? New research reveals the two highest-impact climate actions an individual can take are 1) adopt a plant-rich diet and 2) reduce food waste. Each is ten times more effective than recycling or trading a gas-guzzling car for an electric vehicle. Collectively, individuals (as opposed to governments or industry) have the power to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions by 25-30%.

Which is why I’m fired up to scale up my free 14-Day Greener Plate Challenge. Participants will learn via one email a day (short videos, insightful infographics, fun quizzes, simple recipes, and more):

the relationship between what’s at the end of your fork and climate change,
how to integrate more climate-friendly foods into your diet,
how to identify small climate-friendly changes that will have a large impact, and
creative ways to reduce your food waste.

Last winter, 400+ curious eaters participated in the inaugural 14-Day Greener Plate Challenge. I’ve refreshed the content, added a couple of fun surprises, and am channeling my inner Simone Biles to go for the Gold: 1000+ participants.

Tap into your climate super powers and join hundreds of inquisitive, like-minded eaters as I guide you through the Greener Plate Challenge.

Planet Earth depends on us.

Registration is open for the Fall 2024 challenge. If you’re ready to receive a full collection of planet-friendly resources — e.g., how to calculate the carbon footprint of your diet; health and wellness info; a Challenge members-only live Zoom cooking class; book, TV, and movie recommendations to delve deeper into topics that spark your interest — sign up below. Get on the list to know as soon as we set an official kick-off date.

Did you participate in last year’s Challenge? Do it again. There will be fresh, new content and experiences to help eat your way toward a healthier Earth.