DCL
When things get really hectic around the house, it's really easy just to pick up the phone and dial for take-out. But take a moment, put down the phone, and realize that ordering take-out can take its toll on your carbon footprint. In the Chinese Take-out at Home episode of Emeril Green, Emeril shows Jackie, a busy mom who often turns to take-out, why it's important to make your own Chinese food.
Here's why it's much easier on the planet and your figure if you make your own Chinese food:
Making Chinese food at home is often much healthier because you control the ingredients and can be sure to use less fat and more organic and local ingredients. Chinese take-out also has tons more sodium than the Chinese cuisine you would probably concoct at home.
Making your own take-out also uses less gas. It's kind of a waste to have food delivered or to go and pick food up when you can make great meals at home.
Perhaps the biggest eco-issue with takeout is the excessive amount of packaging that goes into transporting your food. Especially Styrofoam which has long been an environmental blight. Not only are the ubiquitous petroleum-based materials non-biodegradable and difficult to recycle, but they also contain toxic chemicals that, at certain exposure levels, can cause adverse nervous-system effects such as depression, loss of concentration, weakness, fatigue, and nausea, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But paper and plastic are no good either. Paper wastes tons of energy and trees in production and plastic wastes energy, petroleum, and it will never biodegrade.
Check out Less Take-out = Lower Footprint Video!
