Food Fact Sheet

Consumer choices regarding food affect

• The quality of our environment,
• Our body
• Our family's well being, and
• Our wallet.

Environmental Impact: Agriculture is the primary use of water (accounting for nearly half our water use) and therefore greatly impacts the quality and quantity of water. Also, agriculture impacts wildlife areas and often involves the use of pesticides and fertilizers, which can damage the environment.

Physical Health: We are what we eat. Our current food habits have brought obesity and disease to an all-time high. 65% of American adults are overweight and 30% are obese, while 25% have high risk of heart disease primarily due to diet. ( American Obesity Assoc.)

Impact on your wallet: The average consumer spends 14% of their budget on food. Eating out daily, excess cooking and wasteful spending at grocery stores contribute to this figure.

Things you can do…

Eat lower on food chain –predator fish contain higher levels of mercury & PCBs

Eat moderately – overeating raises your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease and cancer of the breast, prostate and colon.

Buy organic

Buy local – the average food travels 1500 miles. Buying local ensures you get fresher, healthier food, while lowering your costs and environmental impacts from transportation.

Cook healthy and good food in bulk and store in individual sized meals

Use physical activity instead of food as a reward: take the kids roller-skating instead of to McDonald's

Useful Websites:

Organic Consumers Association - http://www.organicconsumers.org/

NSF International - http://www.nsf.org/consumer/

Ethical Consumer - http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/links.htm#food

Environment, Conservation, and Sustainable Agriculture - http://www.agry.purdue.edu/links/national/environment.html

Shape Up America - http://www.shapeup.org/pubs/99tips/index.html

Ten ways to cut food costs - http://wvwv.essortment.com/foodcosts_runi.htm