Gobbling up natural resources and how we can help prevent it!

            

**This is not as scientific as some of my other posts, but I think that the findings are important and the environmental repercussions could be large. **

           

**Disclaimer - I DO NOT want to change your eating habits and/or seem preachy. **

            So, yes, I am a vegetarian and no, that does not mean that I want you to stop eating meat. But with Thanksgiving being yesterday and the new findings from the Natural Resources Defense Council coming out - I think that the effects of wastefulness should be addressed.

            According to these recently published results, Americans will throw away 35% of the turkey they buy (no actual results have come out yet). In many Asian and African countries, they waste about 13 pounds of food per person per year, and Americans waste about 253 pounds per year. 

            This is not just a financial burden, at around $282 million dollars going to waste (think of all of the possible Black Friday deals!), but it is also harmful to our environment. To raise (grow?) one pound of turkey takes 468 gallons of water and 12 pounds of CO₂ emissions. This is as harmful to the environment as driving your car 11 miles or taking over an hour and a half long shower. I don’t mean to sound preachy, but that's crazy.

            If Americans purchased 736 million pounds of turkey this year, and threw away 204 million pounds, that means one million tons of CO₂ and 95 billion gallons of water go to waste. That is enough water to supply New York for over 100 days.

            Now, groups aren't suggesting that you eat leftovers until you are sick (especially since it is recommended that they only be saved for a maximum three to four days), but they are suggesting that the American consumer become smarter when it comes to meat -particularly turkey - consumption.

            It is suggested that consumers simply buy a smaller turkey so less has to be produced, and that guests bring reusable containers so leftovers can be shared to decrease waste. The articles also tried to provide readers with additional recipes for inventive things to do with turkey leftovers.

            I hope you all ate turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie, etc to your heart's content (I know I did), but next year think about how thankful we are to have the natural resources we do have and maybe work toward conserving them so we can remain thankful for years to come.

Watch President Obama pardon the White House turkey below!

Discovery News article - here

Los  Angeles times article - here