Day 31 - Even Better Veggie Burgers and Their Environmental Impact

I loved the veggie burgers we made yesterday, but as usual I always make much more than we are really going to eat which means that I had a veggie burger for dinner, for lunch the next day, and for dinner last night again.  I was so dreading eating the same thing for dinner again, but I still had two patties left.  What am I supposed to do?  Throw them out?  No, thanks. 

I drove to the grocery store and purchased 100% whole wheat buns and made them into real burgers. (We had been eating them in pita pockets with spinach and red onion.)  I warmed the buns, put the patty on it, and piled on the following:  mustard, ketchup, spinach, red onion, avocados, and tomatoes.  Wow!!!!  Tasted just like a burger, but without the greasy aftertaste.  Found another keeper recipe!!!

I do think that I will make the patties smaller next time because I ate dinner 14 hours ago and I am still not hungry.

Did I mention how much I love this new way of eating? I love the way I look and feel.  I love that I am losing weight and my cholesterol is healthy. I love all the cooking I am doing.  I love that I am teaching my kids about nutritious choices. I love that because I am not eating animal products, I am minimizing my environmental impact. I love that I am voting with my fork!

However, even though I am making a big change in my life by eating this way, I am still no where near my appropriate resource use.  I used an ecological footprint calculator this morning and I am still way up there, in terms of using resources.  It would take 3 1/2 planet earths to sustain my habits!!!  Wow, and that's including the fact that I am no longer eating animal products and that we drive a hybrid and have energy efficient appliances.

It seems hopeless until you start to think about all your current life choices and how you can improve them. I know living in suburbia does not help because I have to drive everywhere in my gas-guzzling van. I know the size of my house is an issue. It takes a lot of energy to heat and cool 3200 square feet. I know that I have thirsty St. Augustine grass growing all over my yard and that wastes water. I know I am not buying local foods. 

Awareness is the starting point, right?  What's next?  I think I need a plan of action to reduce my impact in these other areas.  More later...I'm off to eat my delicious oatmeal WITHOUT butter or milk.  :)