Ecologically Responsible Cooking

We know that our actions have an impact on our environment, from driving a car to buying groceries. Our individual impact in causing greenhouse gases is called our carbon footprint, and the overall affect on the environment is called our ecological footprint. The first step to reducing our footprint is to learn what factors affect it and how we can change our habits to have a more positive effect. The food you buy is a great place to start; you can easily reduce your ecological footprint and start eating tastier, healthier meals. It's a pretty good deal when you can feel good about your eco-habits and manage to master seafood chowder recipes at the same time.

When evaluating the impact of the foods you buy, you should be considering how the food was raised/produced and where it comes from. It is important to know that your food comes from a healthy, natural growth process, and is harvested in a sustainable way. Additionally, an astounding amount of energy is wasted in transporting food unnecessarily. Why import lettuce or potatoes if your region grows these things locally? Buying food locally supports farmers in your area and eliminates wasteful transportation.

The Alaska seafood industry has made itself a sterling example of natural and sustainable harvesting. Next time you try out one of your favorite seafood chowder recipes, consider where all of your ingredients came from and what ecological impacts they represent. If the seafood in your dish does come from Alaska, know that the state has imposed and enforced regulations that ensure enough fish are able to escape and breed to keep a large and healthy population. Scientists test water quality and help observe salmon runs. This natural life cycle in pure waters renders some of the finest and healthiest seafood available. Being eco-friendly doesn't have to mean sacrificing flavor - in this case it actually makes for even better taste and texture!

What about the other ingredients you use? If you are cooking up one of your favorite seafood chowder recipes, you are probably using butter, milk, potatoes and onions. Is there a local dairy that you could support? Look for one that doesn't use hormone on its cows - you will get better quality milk and help out the Earth. Was the produce raised free of pesticides? Again, food quality is related to farming quality. The things that are bad for nature are usually bad for us as well, so steer clear of hormones, chemical fertilizers, and toxic pesticides.

When you browse through seafood chowder recipes, weigh each ingredient and decide if you can buy it locally. With Alaska seafood you can rest assured that you are participating in a sustainable industry. Be an ecologically responsible cook, and be a healthier person for it!