Food Green Tips

Try tray-less dining (pdf download) 

You are what you eat.

Choose local, seasonal produce when available. 

In the U.S., produce travels an average of 1,500 miles from its origin before it lands on your plate (USDA) Buying local reduces "food miles" which adds up to large reductions in fossil fuel needed for transport. Attend a local farmers' market. Reserve a Community Supported Agriculture share for next year. Read labels at the grocery store that report a food's origin. Stick to what's in season. Try putting 50% of your produce expenditures into local sources.

Choose organic, locally grown foods when available. 

Make a change for a healthier you, healthier farmers, and a healthier planet! Growing food and raising livestock organically limits the chemicals being put into our bodies and our planet. Organic methods protect water quality, maintain soil fertility, and enhance biodiversity. Buying organic in and around Abilene also supports farmers who choose to safeguard the health of their families by avoiding toxins in their fields.

Reduce your food waste in the Bean and elsewhere. 

Take what you want, but eat what you take! Food scraps rank third in their contribution to solid waste in the U.S., accounting for 17.5% of our garbage. It only takes a minute to think before you order or fill your plate in the Bean. By doing so you can take control of a large proportion of the waste you produce.

Use real dishes instead of disposable, when available. 

While washing dishware also requires water and heat, constant use of disposables can add up to be more harmful to the environment. You don't have to swear off disposables entirely, but instead choose reusables when the option is available.

Adapted with permission from the Harvard Green Campus Initiative