Rate this book

Diet For A Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis At The End Of Your Fork And What You Can Do About It (2010)

by Anna Lappé(Favorite Author)

3.63 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1596916591 (ISBN13: 9781596916593)

languge

English

genre

Food & Cookbooks

publisher

Bloomsbury USA

review 1: I've been following the whole local food and sustainability movements for a while now, so I was steeling myself for the big vegan political diatribe against meat-eating. I was gratified that Anna Lappe did not resort to off-putting put-downs of meat eaters like myself. As she points out, it's not what we eat so much as how it is produced and transported that is so costly to our health, infrastructures, survival skills, and planet at large. Reducing the ratio of meat to fruits and vegetables in our diets is something we all could benefit from doing. Integrating chickens and other farm animals into local communities as a local source of protein is far different from our current dependence on huge and hugely toxic CAFOs (factory farms). Some people argue that a vegetarian die... moret emphasizing eating a lot of Big-Ag monocropped grains can be just as destructive to the environment as CAFOs.Lappe underscores many of the myths and manipulations of the large food producers and how they undermine health, sustainability, and our children's future. She names company names for us, which allows consumers to check into just where their food is coming from and how eco-friendly the producers and overall process are. Extensive references and resources in the back of the book allow readers to further explore and educate themselves. This won't change everyone's food-buying behavior, but some of us will decide not to support those companies that are a huge part of the problem. (Just as I avoid Wal-mart like the plague, I will never buy a Smithfield pork product again unless I have no other choice. And I intend to do all I can so I never wind up in a situation where I have no other choice. That means not always taking the path of least resistance and cost when it comes to food and growing/raising as much of my own food as I possibly can.)Although some of the more recent cutting-edge technologies in carbon-neutral agriculture, like biochar to sequester carbon and improve soil fertility, are not included in this book, a number of techniques and efforts to change our food production system for the better are covered. Also, best-use practices such as forest gardening and permaculture are touched on. One tip that stuck with me is to note not just what ingredients but HOW MANY are on a food label; the more ingredients, the more processed the product is likely to be and the more food miles and planetary costs involved in its delivery to your table."Diet for a Hot Planet" is a good eye-opening presentation of what's wrong with our modern food delivery system and why we need to be so concerned about it. We can't all grow our own food, but many of us can; those who cannot can at least support those who are trying to grow food more sustainably through local farmer's markets and CSAs. Making small changes in how and where we buy our food, how we prepare it, and what we do with what's left over can have enormous positive repercussions. Awareness is key. I urge you to buy this book; but, if you don't, at least try to follow these principles (that Lappe explores in depth):THE SEVEN CLIMATE-FRIENDLY DIET PRINCIPLES1. Reach for real food.2. Put plants on your plate.3. Don't panic, go organic.4. Lean toward local.5. Finish your peas...the icecaps are melting. (In other words, cut down on food waste.)6. Send packaging packing.7. DIY food.You'll be highly motivated to follow as many of these principles as you can when Lappe hits you in the face with what most Americans are really eating. It's no wonder so many of us are so fat and sick these days.
review 2: This was a great introduction for the layperson to the impacts how the choices we make in the grocery store have on the world as a whole. From the impact we have on the global climate to villagers in Africa to our neighbors and our children, there are very real consequences to the dietary lifestyle we Americans have become accustomed to. These consequences have passed the point of sustainability and are now starting to have irreversible effects on the planet Earth. This book should prompt those who were previously unaware of what we are doing to each other and to our planet to poul their heads out of the sand and become involved. Ask it takes is thinking about the food we are putting in the basket at the store and not just reaching for the product with the best packaging or the most entertaing ad campaign. Conscious decisions regarding food will help to get us all back on track. less

Download links for: Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do about It

Advertising