food

Did you know that the average American meal travels ~1500 miles before being served on your plate?

Our learning resources this week highlight how food mileage and dietary choices greatly impact all of your previous footprint data (ecological, carbon and water).  

Visit the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture to learn more about food mileage: https://cuesa.org/learn/how-far-does-your-food-travel-get-your-plate

 This week, we examine the role dietary choices play in the environment from growing practices to food transportation and packaging.  You will now assess the impact your personal food choices have on the environment.  Pick a typical meal you eat in a given week and make a list of the food and beverage items you alone (not your whole family) eat and drink in one dinner, including condiments. Then determine where the food was made or grown by reading the food labels. Determine the distance between your location and where the food was made, or grown, using one of many "distance calculators" found on the Internet (Mapquest, YahooMaps, etc.).

Use this table and fill in your personal data:

Food Description	Food’s Origin	Distance Traveled* (difference in mileage between your zip code and the zip code or country on your item)
TOTAL MILEAGE MY DINNER TRAVELED:

200 WORD DISCUSSION AND 1 REFERENCE

Week 7 - Discuss Your Food Mileage

Using the data you compiled under the  Week 7 - Eco Moment (Dinner Data) , discuss these questions:

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1. How do your data relate to air, water, and energy uses/abuses associated with the average American meal--is it greater or less than the average miles driven per day in a typical American car? 

2. If your meal included meat, dairy or eggs, be sure to discuss the water footprint of these items. How is carbon footprint impacted by plant-based vs. animal-based products?

3. If your meal did not include animal products of any kind (vegan diet), discuss local alternatives for at least three main meal items.

Be sure to write a detailed main post here, presenting supporting facts and evidence from reliable sources.  When responding to your classmates, please add to the discussion with a fact-supported addition, opinion, gentle correction, or example, citing reliable sources.