This increases our need for air conditioning, and our desire for iced foods and beverages that require constant refrigeration. CFCs are used as coolants in refrigerators. Diet and the New Ecology Eating whole grains, beans, fresh local vegetables and other whole natural foods is the first step toward restoring the environment. By eating energy-efficient foods in harmony with climate and season, especially those grown organically, we are supporting a system of farming and food production that will preserve the soil, water, and air for a countless number of future generations. Changing to a diet of whole grains and vegetables produces immediate and practical benefits both for the environment, and for our individual health.
Planetary ecology begins in the kitchen.
Below are some basic principles to consider as you move toward a healthful, ecological lifestyle. As we move up the food chain from plant to animal foods, the amount of energy required to produce, transport, and store foods increases dramatically. Grains, vegetables, beans, sea vegetables, and other plant foods are lower on the food chain and require much less energy to produce. Eating a plant-based diet reduces the use of fossil fuels and eases the pollution burden entering the environment, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, all of which are greenhouse gases. Reduce or Avoid Extreme Foods Foods, like everything else in our environment, can be classified into yin and yang.