Put your food on a climate-friendly diet

Reduce your foods environmental impact.

Cut your foods climate impact in half

The food on your plate accounts for one-third of your impact on the climate. And an overwhelming portion of greenhouse gas emissions is produced by the raising of livestock for meat. In Sweden, we eat too much meat, a fact that is neither environmentally nor nutritionally sustainable. In fact, we purchase an average of 85 kilos of meat per person per year. In the last 20 years, we have increased our meat consumption by 40 percent. Exactly what you choose to eat is decisive when it comes to your foods impact on the climate. What you eat means more than even the distance your food has traveled. Choosing vegetarian alternatives is therefore the simplest and most important action you can take towards eating in a more climate-friendly way. If you were to become completely vegetarian, you could reduce your foods climate impact by more than half.

Heres How you can cut your foods climate impact in Half 1. 2. 3. 4. Make every other lunch and dinner vegetarian. Dont waste food. Eat organic foods. Eat according to season, and favor heartier vegetables. Avoid lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers in the wintertime. Choose cabbage, carrots and parsnips instead.

its smart to eat vegetarian

Meat production always requires more energy than vegetable cultivation. Meat can result in up to 100 times more carbon emissions than vegetables, beans and lentils. Try it out! Find inspiration from our vegetarian recipes at www.naturskyddsforeningen.se/klimatmat In order to eat more healthfully, Livsmedelsverket, Swedens National Food Administration, recommends that the average Swede should reduce his or her meat consumption. Eating vegetables is also less expensive than meat or sausages, particularly if you choose root vegetables or other hearty vegetables, beans and lentils.

organic food is better for the climate

Organic flour and vegetables produce about half the volume of greenhouse gases as non-organic alternatives. This is largely due to the fact that organic agriculture takes place without the use of artificial fertilizers, which require a great deal of energy to produce. Krav-labeled products also follow strict rules for the reduction of climate impact in production. Another advantage with organic agriculture is that it avoids the use of chemical pesticides. These pesticides kill not only pests they also kill their natural enemies. An organic farm is more tolerant toward different varieties of plants and animals, which makes it more possible to manage a changing climate.
Half of all grains become feed for livestock Livestock production demands enormous quantities of feed. Today, 50 percent of all grain produced in Sweden is used to feed livestock animals which could otherwise be raised on grass or waste products. A full 70 percent of arable land in Sweden is used to grow livestock feed.

Eco-friendly meats include organic or Swedish, grass-fed meats such as beef or lamb.

animal grazing contributes to biodiversity

When animals are allowed to graze in pastures, other species flourish. While this is a valuable advantage in itself, it also allows nature to become more resistant to climate changes such as extreme weather conditions. A grazed pasture can contain as many as 40 different plants per square meter. Unfortunately, not all livestock is allowed to graze on these precious lands, so choose organic meat or Swedish grass-fed meat instead.

when you eat meat, choose the good meat

The good meat comes from cattle and sheep that feed on grass something we humans cant do. Of course, when ruminants digest, they produce more greenhouse gases than pigs or poultry. But grazing animals are necessary for keeping pastures open, and for retaining important plants and animals. Pigs and chickens are examples of animals that almost exclusively eat the same foods humans can eat namely grains, corn and soy. A large quantity of Swedish livestock feed is imported, a great deal of which is soy. We import more soy than coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa and spices combined.
soy destroys rainforests Brazilian soy is a common feed for Swedish livestock. In several countries in South America, rainforest is destroyed in order to make room for soy cultivation. The savannas of South America, known as cerrados, are used for agriculture, thereby threatening a unique ecosystem. This also affects the local populations ability to produce adequate quantities of food. This devastation threatens the climate, too. Deforestation for the purpose of agriculture accounts for a full six percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Seasonal guide to vegetables

When it comes to eating seasonal foods, a useful rule-of-thumb is to choose fruits and vegetables from Sweden. If this is not possible, produce from Northern Europe should be prioritized first, followed by produce from Southern Europe. root vegetables, in season year-round (sweden) Carrots Parsnips Beets Cabbage Celery root Potatoes Heartier vegetables, swedish season Cauliflower June Nov. Broccoli June Oct. Yellow onions June Apr. Leeks May Dec. Zucchini July Oct. Chinese cabbage June Mar. Spinach May Aug. Snow peas June Aug.

salad vegetables, swedish season Tomatoes Mar. Oct.* Cucumbers Apr. Oct.* Iceberg lettuce June Oct. Arugula June Sept. Chinese cabbage June Nov.

* Grown in greenhouses. Source: S.M.A.R.T-mat, Centrum fr Tillmpad Nringslra, www.kov.se

eat according to season. choose heartier vegetables

Try to follow the Swedish growing seasons for fruit and vegetables. Summertime in Sweden is a perfect time to enjoy Swedish new potatoes, tomatoes, asparagus, cucumbers, lettuce, leeks, berries, rhubarb, snow peas, zucchini and mushrooms. Winter is a better time to eat heartier vegetables such as red and white cabbage or carrots, rather than choosing lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers purely out of habit.

dont waste food!

The food we waste has large and unnecessary effects on the climate. We throw away 20-30 percent of the food we bring home. Together, Swedish households waste 900,000 tons of food every year. A four-person family can save up to SEK 7,000 per year simply by refusing to throw away edible food. Some of this waste is due to the fact that we buy too much food, only for it to sit and rot in the refrigerator. More significantly, however, we throw food away food completely unnecessarily. Trust your senses. Smell and taste your food!

How to reduce waste Plan before you shop. Use leftovers wisely. Find out how at www.naturskyddsforeningen.se/klimatmat Preserve food appropriately. Use clear containers to see whats left in your refrigerator. Empty packages completely. Smell and taste your food.

A few facts about food

!
we purchase 85 kilos of meat
In Sweden, we eat too much meat. This has negative effects on both our health and the environment. Every year, we consume as much as 40 kilos of pork, 16 kilos of poultry and over 25 kilos of beef.

imagine if we all thought a bit greener

If everyone in Sweden were to replace two meat-based meals per week with a vegetarian alternative, we could reduce the equivalent carbon emissions of 233,000 cars per year or 87,500 trips around the world in a single car.

feed more people with less meat

Its easy to reduce meat consumption by choosing smaller portions, or by cooking a hearty stew. The result is a healthier meal with class.

want to know more?

See a short film and find delicious vegetarian recipes and environmentally friendly shopping tips at naturskydssforeningen. se/ klimatmat

eco-labels for organic products Krav is the best-known eco-label for organic foods in Sweden. The Krav label fulfils the guidelines established by EU regulations for organic agriculture. It also includes strict rules regarding environmental impact, animal health, animal ethics and approved additives, among other aspects. Krav stipulates, for example, that pigs must be allowed to root in soil.

Krav

EU-ekologiskt

d and the environment

did you know?
One portion of pea soup contains more iron than a portion of beef. However, the body does not absorb iron as effectively from legumes. By complementing your meal with foods rich in vitamin C, such as chinese cabbage or oranges, or by drinking blackcurrant juice, you can improve your bodys ability to absorb iron.

carrots beat tomatoes

One kilo of carrots produces only a fifth the amount of greenhouse gases as one kilo of tomatoes*. For this reason, try substituting a carrot for a tomato once in a while.

rice or potatoes?
One portion of rice produces twice the amount of greenhouse gas emissions as a portion of potatoes. Kravlabeled rice is better than normal rice, since it is most often grown in Italy using less water-intensive methods. Other climate-friendly alternatives include whole-grain wheat, pasta and bulgur.

A climate-friendly kitchen
Maintain proper refrigerator temperatures. Refrigerator: 5 degrees Crisper: 8 degrees Freezer: -18 degrees A temperature decrease of one degree requires a five percent increase in energy usage. But dont make it too warm or your food may expire more quickly. Use an electric water heater often it saves energy. Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator. This cools down the refrigerator, reducing the energy necessary to keep food cold. Food prepared in the oven demands more energy than if it were prepared on the stovetop.

seafood you can enjoy witH a good conscience

PercH Herring Walleye coalfisH cultivated mussels and oysters all fisH and fisH products marked witH tHe krav and msc labels

Avoid foods transported by air

Strawberries, snow peas, haricots verts and asparagus purchased outside of their Swedish growing seasons. Delicate tropical fruits such as guava, passion fruit and fresh figs. Exotic fresh fish.

* Swedish tomatoes grown in greenhouses heated by biofuels.

Object number: 7607. Naturskyddsfreningen, 2009. This brochure has been produced in part through funding from Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. Photo: Kentaroo Tryman, Johanna Ogenblad, morguefile.com, Matton, Jos Barrios Lancellotti.

Eating vegetarian meals is one of the simplest things you can do to reduce your foods impact on the environment and its climate. In this brochure, you can read about the serious environmental impact caused by meat consumption. We also offer tips on how you can easily reduce your foods influence on the climate. Our choices as consumers can contribute to more sustainable agriculture, both in Sweden and around the world. By acting together, consumers can become a powerful force and an important complement to political decisions. The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation works actively to influence politicians, and to guide consumers toward environmentally friendly choices.

Naturskyddsfreningen. Box 4625, 11691 Stockholm. Tel 08-702 65 00. info@naturskyddsforeningen.se The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation is a nonprofit environmental organization celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2009. The more members we are, the more we can accomplish. You are crucial to our work. Support us by becoming a member! Read more at www.naturskyddsforeningen.se