Green Fitness: Diet

Whether you're training for a marathon or just trying to shed a few pounds, this week's tips will help you go green while getting fit.

Tip #3: Try a Low-Carbon Diet

Athletes know that a healthy diet improves performance. Green your menu by choosing local and organic foods. Opt for fresh veggies, since frozen foods require more energy for storage. Cut back on over-processed, over-packaged energy bars, which sap resources during manufacturing and transportation. Consider carbon emissions when choosing your source of protein. And track your progress using a food-footprint carbon calculator.

Share your tips: What's your favorite low-carbon, pre-workout meal?

Comments

[Dr. Karen]

Do what feels best for you. Most people eat lightly before their workout--maybe a small amount of yogurt, some nuts, or a few rice crackers or apple slices with a little almond butter. It's not easy to do crunches with a full stomach.

For an hour or so after a workout, eat some concentrated protein --a protein shake, fish, chicken, tofu, etc. Dark green leafy veggies like kale, spinach, and swiss chard are a great pairing with your protein to help liver function. It's the liver that decides when and how to turn things to fat vs. muscle.

[Sharon Pinsley]

Before going off to teach ballet classes, I typically had a lovely large salad of: shredded romaine lettuce (more nutrients than iceberg...and tastier), tomatoes, cukes, red and green peppers, carrots, onion diced, red cabbage also shredded, chopped almonds (raw), sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, about a tbsp and a 1/2 of brewer's yeat flakes (the powder is far less tasty), drizzled with frsh lemon juice and olive oil, ground pepper, 1/2 tsp soy sauce and some parmezhan cheese grated into the mass- toss and eat heartily!

[Diane Williamson]

I live in upstate New York and nothing is local now. I would like some tips about how to eat local in the Winter. I might try canning next year, but that seems so hard! How can I tell if things that are made locally really come from local veggies and such?
Thanks!

[Dr. Karen]

For finding green businesses (including those for food, you can check the organicconsumers.org website. On one of the pages, you can enter your zipcode to find local resources. The co-ops and county extension offices are helpful. Also type in "permaculture" in your search engine to find local sources. You might consider growing some of your own greens hydroponically or with a greenhouse light.
Freezing (with a few exceptions)is often better than canning for retaining nutrients in fruits and vegetables. Your county extension office can help you make these choices.

[thegreenchick]

The food footprint carbon calculator is realative to purchases in the UK. Can't believe that the USA doesn't have one that works for the rest of us!

[Marliss]

I have been told that a full freezer is more energy efficient than a freezer that does not have much in it. If so, then if we have a freezer compartment, we should use it. There is always a trade-off. I make my own chicken or turkey stock, my own tomato sauce, pumpkin puree, etc. and freeze it. That cuts down on one form of energy use (and on cans) but obviously uses another. I also cook soups in large quantities and freeze them. Defrosting frozen foods in the refrigerator may save energy. Maybe we need to admit the complexities instead of trying to reduce situations to "good" and "bad."

[Larry Peters]

For people who live in the many parts of the country (like much of the mid-west and much of central Texas) with a significant over-population of white-tailed deer, that is a great, lean, antibiotic & hormone-free, local source of complete protein.

[adipex on line]

I would like some tips about how to eat local in the Winter. I might try canning next year, but that seems so hard!

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[Karen]

look for local foods at: www.localharvest.org

[Kathy's Weight Loss Diary]

Thank you for this wonderful tip on loosing weight. I also had a weight problem and I just tried these two procedure together, acai berry and the natural way of colon cleansing. And it worked!

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[Alwyn]

You suggest I track my progress using a food-footprint carbon calculator. Great idea, I think and click on the button.. The calculator tells me, "The calculator... is only applicable to those who shop inside the UK as distances are calculated from the UK." Hmmmm. How handy is that for Californians, I wonder. Who puts these "helpful" pages together?

[Jan]

I heard weight loss drinks works as well and not really heavy for the tummy.

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Everything “easy” ultimatly comes at a cost. For all us people who tried and tried again with fad diets, we usualy end up bigger and fatty than ever! It’s the changing our lifestyles with good habits that is the hard thing, because it has to be for life. And us humans do love our comfort zones don’t we?!

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