Report Sample: Environmentally Sustainable Meal

The world is committed to maintaining an ecologically balanced environment where the biomass pyramid is self-sustaining. However, due to increased population, food production practices may have affected the ecology since changes of living things habitat have been changed, for instance, due to urbanization and mechanization.

Our food choices have huge influences on our bodies. But many times, we tend to forget that our food choices also directly influence food chain systems and the environment. Our food choices affect the climate because whatever we eat has a direct effect on what we release to the atmosphere. Agricultural activities, especially livestock production and consumption of its products increase greenhouse emissions, thus contributing to global climate change and its effects on health and thread to food production (McMichael et al., 2007). To prevent the increase in greenhouse emissions, a reduction in animal products consumption and the intensity of emissions is an important strategy. To address this, it starts with the use of environmentally sustainable food that will contribute to the ecology rather than harming it.

To address environmentally sustainable meal, I choose a protein plant-based meal for study. Proteins are known to have both beneficial effects on both human health and influencing ecologically friendly farming. Protein foods like pulses are known to have beneficial effects on the environment. Pulses are part of the legume family which includes crops like beans, lentils, and dried peas. They contain a substantial amount of protein and fiber which are strongly related to relatively high levels of nitrogen fixation in the soil which contributes positively to the environment and the economy (Walley et al., 2007). Additionally, pulses have beneficial effects on a human by providing protein and fiber and relative amounts of vitamins and minerals like iron, folates, zinc, and magnesium. Furthermore, pulses have phytochemicals such as saponins and tannins have antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic effects on the human body (Mudryj et al., 2014).

To prepare beans meal, always get good quality beans, sort out unwanted materials and rinse before cooking. Leave the beans soaking overnight before the initial cooking. Soaking the beans helps them cook faster and evenly. Adding brine while cooking will increase cooking efficiency hence reduction in cooking time. While cooking, seasoning I essential in creating a good flavor meal with a pleasant aroma. But, to create a meal which is an environmentally sustainable meal, in this case, using natural herbs like sage leaves and grounded nutmeg as a seasoning ingredient. Cooked beans can be served with hot rice as it is also a cereal which is high in carbohydrates and relative amounts proteins.

References

McMichael, A. J., Powles, J. W., Butler, C. D., & Uauy, R. (2007). Food, livestock production, energy, climate change, and health. The Lancet, 370(9594), 1253-1263.

Walley, F. L., Clayton, G. W., Miller, P. R., Carr, P. M., & Lafond, G. P. (2007). Nitrogen economy of pulse crop production in the Northern Great Plains. Agronomy Journal, 99(6), 1710-1718.

Mudryj, A. N., Yu, N., & Aukema, H. M. (2014). Nutritional and health benefits of pulses. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 39(11), 1197-1204.