My area of focus for Scholars Earth Month is food and water. I chose this focus because this has effected me me for quite some time. For the past year I have done research on diet and how it effects the environment and oneself. I have come to learn a lot about how one can alter their diet to better their health and the world. Although veganism seems the best route with the most benefits for this there are other less drastic options. I myself am a pescatarian, which is another option, along with being a vegetarian or simply reducing one’s intake of animal products. College students eat several times everyday, so it is obvious how small changes can accumulate to a large difference.
Things you can do to help the environment [centered around a food & water changes]
- Eat more locally grown foods
- Use a water filter (instead of buying disposable water bottles)
- Become a vegan
- If that’s too drastic for you… consider being a vegetarian or pescatarian
- Still not feeling it? The least you can do is not eat meat one day out of the week
- Eat more plant based foods
- Buy Fair Trade
- Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth
- Turn off the water in between washing dishes
- Take shorter showers
- Always carry a reusable water bottle with you
- Have extra swipes? Don’t let them go to waste, buy a homeless person a meal
- Only wash your laundry in full loads (bonus; this will save you money too)
- Start a compost pile
- Use less paper napkins during meals
- Skip taking baths, instead just shower
- Shower every other day (bonus; your hair will also get healthier)
- Ditch the paper plates and plastic silverware for meals, go reusable
3 resources around campus and Columbus that can help get you informed and involved:
- The Ohio State University Vegetarian & Vegan Society: For anyone trying to change their diet to decrease their impact on the environment this is a great club here at OSU to support and back up your new lifestyle. They meet biweekly and have a Facebook page so there are always updates and new events going on within the club.
- Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District: This organization is committed to the conversation of water in Franklin County. They offer workshops, volunteering opportunities, and advice on how you can conserve water at home and around Columbus.
- The North Market: This market is located in the Short North and caters to those who like to purchase fresh produce and food locally grown by individual business owners. Many food options here are organic and locally grown. Not only are you helping the environment and your health, but you’re also supporting small businesses when you shop here!
Websites that can help get you informed and involved:
- http://www.chooseveg.com/environment : for those looking to change their diet for a more sustainable lifestyle this website is great. It helps give pointers on leading a vegetarian lifestyle and is full of statistics about why becoming a veg head helps the earth. For example, raising animals for food uses 30% of the earth’s land mass. These facts will definitely help reinforce your new diet decision!
- http://www.50waystohelp.com : If you’re looking to make changes in small ways this website offers 50 things you can do to help out the planet. Not all of these are related to food and water, but there are a lot of water conservation tips (like only running the dishwasher for full loads) along with a few diet changes examples (like going vegetarian once a week) that can make a difference. If everyone started doing these there would be immense change.
- http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm : This website offers a lot of great ways to conserve water at home. It ranges from small things like shutting off the facet when you’re brushing your teeth to at home projects like checking your plumbing for leaks. A lot of these options are not only great for the planet but save you money.
- http://www.peta.org : Oh the infamous PETA. Despite what you may have heard from those who have only heard rumors about PETA and extremist actions, this organization is actually amazing and very dedicated to helping the earth and all those who inhabit it. This website offers a lot of animal rights information along with why being vegan or at least vegetarian helps reduce one’s impact on the environment, how it can help push the world in a right direction, and why it is beneficial to your health. The videos are quite impactful and I would only recommend watching them if you want to change your diet, otherwise you will just feel guilty anytime you eat a hamburger
Give a few of these changes a try and check out some of the resources. They are influential and show how small habits and steps you can incorporate into your daily routine, not just for a month but for a lifetime, can change the world.