Green Hands USA: America Volunteers

Food is life, but how much does it really cost? Some meals "cost" more than others in terms of energy, greenhouse gases, sustainability, and other issues. But how do you reduce the eco-cost of your dinner? Here are a few simple ideas.

1. Go meatless one night a week. Most vegetables can be grown using far fewer resources than meat -- beef especially. Have a nice salad or a pasta dish at least once a week and you'll reduce the environmental impact of your dinner.

2. If you must have meat, try chicken. Or Turkey. Or buffalo. Or fish, if it's caught in a sustainable manner. Again, skip the beef. Raising cattle requires more food and water than any other livestock.

3. Invite some friends over! It's more efficient to cook one meal for four people than it is to cook four meals individually.

4. Plan for leftovers! Re-heating something in the microwave uses less energy than cooking something the first time in an oven or on a stove. Or eat your leftovers cold for even more energy savings!

5. Use fewer dishes. Pick simple recipes that don't require 87 different pans and pots and serving dishes. The fewer you use, the fewer you'll need to wash, which saves both water and electricity (or whatever you use to heat your water).

6. Choose local, organic, sustainable food. Local food, especially, doesn't need to be trucked as far to get to you, so why you opt to buy food from your local area, you're producing fewer greenhouses gases. Organic foods tend to be grown with fewer pesticides or fertilizers, which is better for the environment. And sustainably grown food ensures that the food will always be around!

So, what's for dinner?