Earth Day Pledge: Eat Green for A Healthy You & A Healthier Planet

There was a time when our elders at home and teachers back in school used to lecture us to eat more of green vegetables. At that time, what they meant by saying "eat green" was to eat more of leafy vegetables and fresh produces to get a healthy system and a sharper mind. But now, when someone says "green eating," he/she means being environmental conscious.

Today, on 22nd of April 2010, when the entire world is celebrating Earth Day, let's take a moment and think over this issue of green eating and its significance. - Why should we consider shifting to green eating, why shun meat from our daily diet, how a change in our eating habits is going to make a difference in the nature around us? Let's take time out from our individual busy schedules, and spare a thought for all these.

The so called Green Revolution in agriculture— the widespread adoption of pesticides, fertilizers, new crops, and a range of scientific farming techniques in the decades following 1945, transformed life throughout the world, mostly for the better. But there was one thing that went against the entire scheme of things. Industrial farming had visibly bad effects on nature, and excessive dependence on fossil fuels and other natural resources led to global warming.

Though the changes are large-scale, we can still try from our ends to undo some of these disastrous effects. And the best way to start doing this, is to include certain changes in our daily eating habits:

- Avoid eating animal and bird meat, and stop depleting livestock. Depend more on plant protein alternatives such as oatmeal, green peas, spinach, and almonds.
- Stay close to the soil, stay closer to Mother Earth.
- Turn vegetarian - it is the coolest way to showcase your environmentally conscious self.
- Enjoy home cooking and home-cooked food.
- Eat plenty of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

These are very simple things. Start following them for a disease-free healthy you and a healthier planet on this Earth Day.