Last night I called a friend in Los Angeles, to ask if she was safe from the fire that’s raging in southern California. She was fine, she told me, but her daughter had evacuated from Santa Monica. My husband and I had planned on retiring to California, but after spending a year there a few years ago, and experiencing “atmospheric rivers,” mudslides, and fires, we decided to stay put in the Northeast. We think fondly of the good ‘ole days, when our concern about California was “only” earthquakes. Yes, it’s freezing in Boston now, but as they say, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” We wear lots of (unattractive) suitable clothing. So does our dog.
The recent California fire got me thinking about a farmer friend from Vermont, who told me after two devastating floods in the state, “I am so anxious about climate change, sometimes it keeps me awake at night.”
She’s not alone. “Climate anxiety” is a thing. Researchers at Harvard and Yale tell us the Rx for climate anxiety is to figure out what you can control, then do it. There are two high-impact climate actions each of us take. Both involve your kitchen.
We have the power to fight climate change. Every day. With every meal.
1. Adopt a plant-rich diet. There’s no need to go vegan. Just reduce the amount of meat and dairy you currently eat.
2) Stop throwing out food.
Each of these action is ten times more effective than recycling or trading a gas-guzzling car for an electric vehicle. And each is easy to do. Collectively, we have the power to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions by 25-30%.
Which is why I’m fired up to scale up my free 10-Day Greener Plate Challenge. Participants will learn via one email a day (short videos, simple swaps, fun facts, beginner 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, almost 500 curious eaters participated in the inaugural Greener Plate Challenge. I’ve created new content (so if you participated last year, do it again!), added 5 awesome, effective NGO partners, prizes galore, and am channeling my inner Simone Biles to go for the Gold: 1000+ participants.
Tap into your Climate Super Powers and join inquisitive, like-minded eaters as I guide you through the Greener Plate Challenge.
Planet Earth depends on us.
Registration is open for the February 4-13, 2025 Challenge. Click to learn more and register.
Did you participate in last year’s Challenge? Do it again. I’ve added fresh new content and experiences to help eat your way toward a healthier Earth.
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