Tip of the Week

Eco-Friendly Kabobs

Along with Labor Day and the Fourth of July, more Americans get a hankering for cookouts and weenie roasts on Memorial Day than any other day of the year. And whether the menu consists of burgers, bratwursts, T-bones or pork butt, Memorial Day is a big day for meat. With the livestock sector responsible for 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined emissions of all forms of transportation, all those beef burgers add up to extra carbon in the atmosphere.

If you're among the millions of grilling enthusiasts firing up the barbie on Monday, consider a meal with a lower eco-impact. Because beef production releases three times more greenhouse gases than the production of chicken or fish, you'll make a big dent in your Memorial Day emissions by skipping the burgers and grilling up more chicken, fish and veggies instead.

If you must have red meat, purchase locally raised meat products that support small grass farms in your region and preserve green spaces that house biodiversity. And purchase less of it. Instead of serving an eight-ounce New York strip to each person, slice up two steaks and slide them on skewers with onions, green peppers and tomatoes for a delicious and eco-conscious meal that will probably save you money too.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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