A Change in Diet
Here's a challenge for all of you. The expedition team is not going to eat beef for the rest of the adventure. Can you? We were sent some information regarding beef's impact on the Earth, and the amount of carbon dioxide needed to raise cattle. By lowering the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, we can reduce the rate of global warming.
Food accounts for 13% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Red meat and dairy are responsible for nearly 1/2 of all greenhouse gases from food for an average U.S. household. Replacing red meat and dairy one day per week with chicken, fish, and eggs reduces emissions equal to 760 miles per year of driving. Switching to vegetables one day per week cuts emissions by the equivalent of driving 1,160 miles per year.
Based on this information, we are going to make different food choices instead of eating hamburgers, steaks, or canned beef (not that we eat too much beef on the trail). What are some simple decisions we all can make to keep a reduced carbon diet? What could you do to help reduce your food's greenhouse gas emissions?
As far as answers to yesterday's Daily Dilemma, we received many ideas about how people can coexist in the rainforest without harming it. We knew it was a hard question, and we received many thoughtful responses. However, we received this answer from K. Hoag's room 303, and thought it was brilliant.
Room 303's response
First, it was important to come up with reasons why the rainforests are so necessary. Then we'll come up with ways to coexist.
We should not cut down the rainforest because:
1. A lot of plants and animals will die and may become extinct because of loss of habitat!
2. That part of the land may become warmer because the trees that take up CO2 will be gone plus the shade will be gone.
3. The ground will lose moisture and may become more desert-like.
4. We would lose forever the oxygen those trees make.
5. Understory trees will also die out.
6. We would lose sources of fruit.
7. We will be destroying plants that may have a medicine for diseases, and we have explored only a small part of what is in the Amazon.
Ways to coexist:
1. Replant where trees are taken for the selling logs.
2.We could keep pushing to recycled paper and wood products and cut back on beef eating to take away some of the reasons for cutting down the trees. Also, encourage people to use rags rather than paper towels.
3. Somehow, with help of some good architects,find a way to move houses into the rainforest, at least in sections.
4. Instead of growing plants for money, train people to become plant hunters.
5. We also need to stop using the Amazon animals as pets, and buy animals that are raised by the pet stores.
6. Set aside more important land for parks and preserves and then enforce them.
Our class found out that "saving the Amazon" is easy to say, but hard to do.
We also wanted to let you know that we distributed a Claremont Academy t-shirt and a hat to our new friends from Sao Jose du Supresa, Luzivan and Valzenir. These two friends were so kind in taking us out fishing for piranha today that we wanted to give them something special to remember us by. We will be having a futbol contest soon to give away our other Claremont T-shirt.
Reptiles have been hard to find so far, but today we did find a Yellowfooted Tortoise. It was really cool to watch crawl around, and we were amazed by how thick its shell was. We also learned that Yellow footed Tortoise can get really large. Some have a shells that is almost 2 feet long!
Based on this information, we are going to make different food choices instead of eating hamburgers, steaks, or canned beef (not that we eat too much beef on the trail). What are some simple decisions we all can make to keep a reduced carbon diet? What could you do to help reduce your food's greenhouse gas emissions?
As far as answers to yesterday's Daily Dilemma, we received many ideas about how people can coexist in the rainforest without harming it. We knew it was a hard question, and we received many thoughtful responses. However, we received this answer from K. Hoag's room 303, and thought it was brilliant.
Room 303's response
First, it was important to come up with reasons why the rainforests are so necessary. Then we'll come up with ways to coexist.
We should not cut down the rainforest because:
1. A lot of plants and animals will die and may become extinct because of loss of habitat!
2. That part of the land may become warmer because the trees that take up CO2 will be gone plus the shade will be gone.
3. The ground will lose moisture and may become more desert-like.
4. We would lose forever the oxygen those trees make.
5. Understory trees will also die out.
6. We would lose sources of fruit.
7. We will be destroying plants that may have a medicine for diseases, and we have explored only a small part of what is in the Amazon.
Ways to coexist:
1. Replant where trees are taken for the selling logs.
2.We could keep pushing to recycled paper and wood products and cut back on beef eating to take away some of the reasons for cutting down the trees. Also, encourage people to use rags rather than paper towels.
3. Somehow, with help of some good architects,find a way to move houses into the rainforest, at least in sections.
4. Instead of growing plants for money, train people to become plant hunters.
5. We also need to stop using the Amazon animals as pets, and buy animals that are raised by the pet stores.
6. Set aside more important land for parks and preserves and then enforce them.
Our class found out that "saving the Amazon" is easy to say, but hard to do.
We also wanted to let you know that we distributed a Claremont Academy t-shirt and a hat to our new friends from Sao Jose du Supresa, Luzivan and Valzenir. These two friends were so kind in taking us out fishing for piranha today that we wanted to give them something special to remember us by. We will be having a futbol contest soon to give away our other Claremont T-shirt.
Reptiles have been hard to find so far, but today we did find a Yellowfooted Tortoise. It was really cool to watch crawl around, and we were amazed by how thick its shell was. We also learned that Yellow footed Tortoise can get really large. Some have a shells that is almost 2 feet long!
Comments
You could go to a villige and ask for firana.
Posted by: MARCUS | April 30, 2008 5:52 AM
We decided to plan a day of eating without using foods that cause lots of carbon emissions. To reduce our food related carbon footprint, we have decided that our menu must not include foods that are in packages and no meat or dairy.
Breakfast: Pancakes, toast or grits, oranges and bananas
Lunch: Corn, salad, bread, homemade cookies
Dinner: Rice, stir fry vegetables (broccoli, peppers, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms), homemade cake
Drinks: homemade juice, water, fruit smoothie
Posted by: St. Ann Clark 2nd Grade | April 30, 2008 10:28 AM
Eat fish.
Eat fruit from the rain forest.
Eat a vegetarian's diet.
Posted by: Mrs. Bickel's Class | April 30, 2008 11:06 AM
We could grow more fruits, vegetables, and grains in the summertime and eat lots more of them rather than beef. We should reduce the amount of food we eat at fast food restaurants. Everyone should eat more fish and chicken. At school, on days when the hot lunch includes beef, we could pack a cold lunch from home.
Posted by: Mrs. D's class | April 30, 2008 11:18 AM
Hi im Deana i think you are making a great decion for not eating beef every day. I think i might try to do it with youu!!!!!
Posted by: Deana | April 30, 2008 11:30 AM
i think we should boycot beef
Posted by: luka | April 30, 2008 11:30 AM
I would not eat a lot of beef i would eat herbs such as berries and fruit and what not. =]
Posted by: Alyssa Cranmer | April 30, 2008 11:31 AM
you could eat more natral food like non prossesed fruits and vegtables. also you can not eat beef because it makes globle warming a larger problem.
- ♥ - ♥ - ♥ - ♥ - ♥ - ♥ -
jourdan lamarre
Posted by: Jourdan Lamarre | April 30, 2008 11:34 AM
You guys rock! I would positivly love to go to the rainforest except for maybe the bugs and food! All the animals are so interesting! The baby sloth was so cut that once I saw it I wanted to get one of my own but unforunatly I can't :(! I think that they should have cow ranches some where else and not the rain forest! I go to Prairie Hill school in Cary and you guys talked to us all about the rain forest! Once again you guys rule!
Posted by: Kelly | April 30, 2008 11:35 AM
I think you should eat foods from the rainforest.The reason is you are far away from other foods you normally eat.So eat something like mangos if they have them.
Posted by: Kayla | April 30, 2008 1:49 PM
Thank you for publishing our responses. Mr. Hoag is embarressed about his writing mistakes. (My students say, "BIG writing mistakes.")
This is kind of hard to answer because it seems like you already did, but here it goes... (Sheesh! Now my class is editing EVERYTHING I write!)
1. Eat more veggies.
2. Steal some fruit from the toucans and monkeys.
3. Eat more bread (How about piranha sandwiches?)
4. What indigenous plants could be eaten? Find them.
5. My class said that if you will give us a list of ingredients, they will come up with some recipes for you. (If you can trust their taste in recipes!)
6. Salads, they say. (I told them to paddle 10 miles down the river just on eating a salad and see how far they get.)
7. Instead of milk, drink fruit juices.
Posted by: 303 and K. Hoag | April 30, 2008 1:55 PM
Eat more fruit and vegetables from the region. Eat fish from the river. If you eat meat, be conservative about how much you eat. Eat chicken and the eggs.
Posted by: St. Mary's 4th grade | April 30, 2008 1:56 PM
Here are some tips for you on your trip...
Beans and tofu are good for protein. You still need to eat a lot of protein.
Eat a lot of fruit.
Eat locally grown foods
Go fishing!
Here are some tips for other people around the world...
Ask your doctor about becoming a vegetarian. Check to see if it is a healthy alternative to meat.
Make you own greenhouse and grow your own foods.
Posted by: Marina | April 30, 2008 2:53 PM
What you can do: We think you can eat those foods that hurt the environment only on certain days of the week, you could also eat more chicken and a potebello mushroom is just as good and juicy as a steak! You could also fish and eat fish more often. You could also eat eggs which are a great source of protein.
What we can do: We can recycle, eat more fruits and vegetables, walk more often instead of driving, and we will try to cut down on the meat.
Posted by: St. Ann Clark 6th Grade | April 30, 2008 4:38 PM
Hey guy! I think what you are doing is a great thing. When I grow up I am also going to go on a wilderness explation. Thanks for making a difference by trying to stop global warming. People should try to be more like you guy! I can't what until your next podcast.
Abby
Posted by: Abby | April 30, 2008 5:31 PM
I had been inspired to become a vegetarian a couple months ago after I heard about how cattle ranches are taking over the rainforest. I also cut out meats because people are just being plain irresponsible with our resources. It is harder with my busy lifestyle, since I can't go to fast food restaurants. If you look at the world through a vegetarian's point of view you will reallise how much of carnivores Americans really are. I hope I have inspired people to try being vegetarian. PS:There is so many fake meat things out there. I got corn dogs and chicken nuggets w/o meat at Trader Joe's.
Posted by: Quinn B | April 30, 2008 5:57 PM
Breakfast: eggs, pancakes, homemade hash browns, homemade orange juice, fresh fruits
Lunch: Fish, homemade French fries, vegetables, water
Dinner: chicken, steamed vegetables, bread, pasta, water
Posted by: Mr.Clark 7th grade class | April 30, 2008 7:09 PM
We think that you guys should have this diet:
Breakfast: Any kind of fresh squeezed juice,bread with come kind of sauce or jam, fresh vegetables.
Lunch:Salad, juice, fresh fruit, fish
Dinner: green beans, tea, chicken, baked potatoes,
Posted by: Stannclark 7th- HCC, WOJ, FRY, OGS | May 1, 2008 11:22 PM
could you tell me about the big cats like tigers and others.
Posted by: ARKITA C | May 5, 2008 9:53 AM