Did you know that when the average North American sits down to eat, his/her food has traveled at least 1500 miles before making it to the dinner plate? (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) Obviously that has quite the impact on the environment from a transportation/fuel cost.
In order to reduce their effect on the environment, in 2005, Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon - of Vancouver, British Columbia - committed to eating locally produced foods. They labeled their efforts as the 100 Mile Diet.
As a result of their efforts, Alisa and James have published a couple of books and have some web sites that share the findings of their one-year experiment (see related links below). Although they still try to keep their 100-mile radius for food purchases, they have incorporated some of the items they really missed while on the ‘diet’. These include beer, bread (they couldn’t find a wheat farmer), and chocolate [I really can’t blame them for making these exceptions!].
I was aware of the obvious impacts various foods have on the environment, such as transportation costs, pesticide and herbicide use, and genetically altered crops, but didn’t realize how significant a difference eating locally can make. In fact, a study in Iowa found that following regional diets like the 100 Mile Diet requires almost 20% less fuels than a typical North American diet.
Here are some other reasons Alisa and James share for the 100 Mile Diet:
- The taste. Alisa and James shopped primarily at farmers' markets where produce was usually picked fresh and not sprayed or stored in order to prevent spoilage
- You know what you are eating. By getting to know local providers, they were able to learn about the farming methods used in planting and harvesting various produce, or in raising livestock. They could see first-hand how the animals were treated, or how the fruits and vegetables were harvested.
- Social opportunities. Alisa and James found they were more likely to socialize with vendors and other shoppers while at a Farmer’s Market than when they went grocery shopping. They tended to connect with others who had the same desire to support the local vendors while lowering their carbon footprint.
- Seasonality. Each season is known for certain foods. In fact, some health practitioners claim that certain foods are available in certain seasons to align with our respective health needs.
- Experimentation and variety. When limited with choices based on availability, they found they experimented a bit more with recipes. And, often, local farmers know their crop better than anyone and will produce a number of varieties of a type of crop. I know that local farmers here sell a variety of purple cauliflower that I have not seen in any grocery store.
- Exploration. The 100 Mile Diet web site is full of stories of 100 Mile Dieters having fun touring local farms. Check out your local township office for guides to local farms. We recently found a book that highlights meat, poultry, and produce farmers in our local county.
- Support your local economy. One study found that investing in local food businesses allows the money to be reinvested in the local economy. The value of doing so is almost twice as great as when you spend the money with a grocery store chain.
- Lose weight and get healthier. James and Alisa both lost weight, found they were eating less processed foods, and ate more foods while they were at their ‘nutritional peak’ so they got more benefit out of each one.
I talked to my husband about the 100 Mile Diet after I researched it a bit more. We came to the realization that we have been doing this to some extent as we were getting frustrated with the packaging and quite honestly, the cost of ‘healthy’ foods at the grocery store. This past summer we began frequenting farmer’s markets, and met local farmers where we purchased our meats and eggs.
We have a long way to go but at the very least we are having fun discovering what options we do have in our community and meeting some great people. Our favorite discovery was the local dairy that produces the most amazing home-made ice cream and at a fraction of the cost of store-bought. How perfect!
If you are interested in learning more about the 100 Mile Diet, please check out the links below.
Happy and healthy eating!
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