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I have learned that what we eat has a tremendous impact on our planet. If we can learn to be more intentional as consumers, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and protect the planet for future generations to come. From what I discovered, my meal of spicy red lentil curry and mangoes ultimately has a positive environmental impact relative to meals eaten as part of the standard American diet. The red lentils I used were from Turkey, grown as a mono crop that will deplete the soil of vital minerals over time. However, red lentils produce lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to livestock farming and water usage is fairly low. The transportation impact, however, is a negative that could be avoided by sourcing lentils from North America. The Co-op where I shopped specifically sources many products locally when possible. This reduces greenhouse emissions. Currently, more than 70 percent of our produce here in the United States comes from California or Mexico. If we thought mo...

 Shopping at a local co-op provides consumers the ability to know the exact geographic region their produce comes from. In Minneapolis, co-ops have been popular since the ’70s, helping to bolster the demand for locally grown produce during the summer months. For my meal, I prepared a delightful red lentil curry with some mangoes for desert. As someone with food allergies, I have to take special care in finding what ingredients are in a given product. My red lentils were grown and processed in a facility in Turkey containing gluten. Because of this, I made sure to wash them extra well before cooking. Moreover, many products in the bulk section at local supermarkets today are processed in facilities that increase the risk of cross contamination. Facilities exist the world over to help sort through cashews, various nuts, flour and wheat products sifting through all possible contaminants before they arrive on our shelves. My Nam Doc Mai mangoes were grown in Mexico and were labelled as...

 Recently, I took a promenade to Seward Coop in Minneapolis. With all the fresh seasonal produce, I thought it an excellent time to checkout what they had available! Upon entering, I was greeted with a floral array of various fruits. After sometime browsing various fruits, I decided on Nam Dok Mai mangoes; a variety that is not so easy to come by. Next, I picked out some vegetables. I grabbed red onion, heirloom carrots, Thai Chili peppers, garlic and cherry tomatoes. I desired warmth after days of rain, so I thought to make a soup or stew. I went to the meat aisle but everything was expensive. I decided to venture into the bulk section to look for a legume or grain to fill the void. Lo and behold, the coop was having a sale on red lentils for 1.99/IB.  I purchased a couple pounds of lentils on this occasion and made my way back home. Upon arrival, I washed the lentils several times to ensure no possible contamination from gluten. They were labelled as having been processed in...

Few items capture the essence of  Western consumerism that has enveloped the world like the plastic bag. Since the end of the Second World War, the omnipresence of the plastic bag, a petroleum byproduct, has become a symbol of worldwide dependence on oil. Oil's importance as a commodity has only grown since then, as its versatile properties continue to be discovered. Petroleum byproducts like polyethylene- the most commonly produced plastic- are now a universal part of everyday life. But it wasnt always this way. Heinz Schmidt-Bachem, a historian with a collection of over 150,000 bags illustrates the evolution of the shopping bag. From cloth reusable bags adorning the image of Hitler from the 1930s to '70s disco themed plastic bags with Tina Turner, the transformation of the shopping bag reflects broad cultural shifts. However, the widespread use of plastic bags has not only shaped consumer habits but also had profound environmental impacts. In Mumbai, the plastic bag has been ...