Nicole Muzsnai

I am exploring seaweed farming as a potential solution to the climate crisis for Research Project 1, so I decided to look into the sustainability of eating various types of seafood. I explored the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch website, which ranks the sustainability of consuming different types of seafood.

I read up on Atlantic salmon, one of my favorite fish to eat. I found out that Atlantic salmon farmed in an indoor tank that circulates water properly, can actually be a more sustainable option than eating wild caught salmon. It’s important for the water to circulate because it reduces the risk of bacteria and virus outbreaks, ensuring that minimal amounts of chemicals and antibiotics are used. Also, I learned that when fish are farmed indoors, they pose less of a threat to native species in surrounding waters. Since there is no way for these fish to escape into the ocean, unlike open-ocean farming that uses nets that can tear, it is improbable they will become invasive species. Given this information, I will pay more attention to the labels of my food to see where exactly it's sourced, or even just skip the seafood altogether when I can.

I was also curious to look up seaweed's sustainability rank on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch website. I was not surprised to find out it was ranked as a "Best Choice." The website mentioned that seaweed farmed using off-bottom culture methods is the most sustainable option. This is when growing seaweed is attached to a rope and buoys so it does not actually touch the bottom of the ocean floor. This approach reduces the risk of seaweed pieces tearing off or being eaten by benthic organisms.

I was happy to see that seaweed was ranked so high, as I strongly believe seaweed farming could be a great solution to the climate crisis, as it sequesters carbon and is a nutritious food source to many!

I have not eaten palm oil, coffee, or cocoa for the past five days. Overall, this change was challenging as many everyday food items contain palm oil. This includes things like cereals, snacks, and candies. One food item I was sad to discover contains palm oil was Nutella, which I tend to eat on waffles for breakfast. I decided to no longer eat Nutella these past few days, but rather eat my waffles with fresh berries instead. I feel like this switch is a win-win for me, since I’m getting vitamins and antioxidants from the berries and contributing less to deforestation!

It was also challenging to eliminate cocoa from my diet because I like snacking on chocolate during homework sessions to boost my energy! I don’t think it will be practical for me to eliminate chocolate from my diet forever, however, I can make efforts to ensure that the chocolate that I purchase is sustainably sourced. I will also try eating more dark chocolate, since it doesn't contain milk, and thus its production doesn't rely on cattle.

Coffee wasn’t very challenging to eliminate from my diet since I don’t drink coffee at all. I do, however, enjoy drinking tea in the morning, specifically green tea or cardamom tea. I was curious to discover how sustainable the process of harvesting tea was and after a quick google search, I found that mainstream growers cultivating tea can degrade soil and use excessive amounts of water. I also discovered that most tea bags are made of plastic and, when steeping in hot water, release millions of plastic particles, which we end up digesting. Given this, I will try to purchase loose-leaf tea instead (although more pricey) and support small farmers that grow regeneratively.

I was surprised to find out that my current diet is unfortunately enforcing deforestation practices and is contributing to a huge reduction in biodiversity by destroying various forest habitats. This is mainly because my diet includes foods that contain cocoa and palm oil. Many everyday food products like ketchup, deserts, and cereals contain at least one of these ingredients. I was also shocked to find out that even beauty products, like shampoos, makeup, and soaps have palm oils. For cocoa, many rainforests are clear because Cocoa tends to grow the best with full sun, however some farmers are transitioning to growing cocoa in the shade which means less trees are cut down in the process. Further, palm oil grows the best in tropical climates, so rainforests are cleared to create palm plantations.

Rapid clearing of forests eliminates large trees' ability to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. To decrease my negative impact, I will try to only purchase food products that have the rainforest alliance certification seal, which is a green frog! Buying from companies that have this seal will ensure that I am supporting organizations that are doing their part to enforce environmental and social sustainability in their business practices. Fun fact: KitKat chocolate bars have this seal, so it’s comforting to know I don’t have to give up my favorite candy! To increase my positive impact, I will try to minimize my meat and dairy consumption, since a lot of land is being cleared out for grazing. Also, since I do not drink coffee, I do not have to worry about making more conscious consumption habits with regard to coffee brands!

I have been volunteering (almost) weekly at the Venice Family Clinic food insecurity drive for over a year. The clinic receives produce from Food Forward, an organization that rescues food that is about to be thrown away from local farms, farmer’s markets, and wholesale markets. At the food insecurity drive, volunteers fill bags of fresh fruits and vegetables and distribute them to the community. I have loved supporting my community this way as I truly believe that food serves as medicine and an equalizer. Free healthy produce can help mitigate the diet-related health issues that are linked with low socioeconomic status, such as diabetes and obesity.

Although I have a stressful and traffic-filled drive there, I always have a good time volunteering because of the sense of community I have formed with my fellow volunteers and supervisors. I have met many new people and formed unexpected friendships with people I would never have encountered otherwise. When volunteering this Wednesday morning in Venice, a man experiencing homelessness approached us and asked if he could help break down the produce boxes and place them in the recycling bin. His willingness to help warmed my heart, and it was amazing to see that my fellow volunteers and I created a strong sense of community so that he felt comfortable reaching out.

I love volunteering so that I can offer low-income individuals a dependable source of fresh produce. I am also able to take a bag of groceries home each week, which has helped me financially and is a environmentally conscious action since the produce would have been discarded otherwise!

I attached a picture of me volunteering in Venice!

People in wealthier countries eat more meat because meat is an expensive protein that only well-off individuals can incorporate into their daily meals. Eating meat, especially pork and beef, can increase the risk of several health conditions, such as heart disease and obesity. Our immense consumption of meat has led to disastrous consequences, including the destruction of many carbon-sequestering forests to provide grazing land for cattle. Also, cow farts release methane and other gasses into the atmosphere, accelerating the climate crisis.

By eating more meatless meals, I am able to learn and try new plant-based recipes. Recently, I tried a new lentil soup recipe, and I really enjoyed it! Eating more plant-based meals caused me to realize that my family, likely due to our Romanian heritage, largely relies on meat as a source of protein in our meals. Despite this, I encouraged my sister and mom to try out the lentil dish I made, and they were surprised by how filling the dish was, even though it lacked meat. Also, after eating a plant-based meal, I tend to feel satiated and energetic rather than weighed down or tired - probably because I’m eating a lot more fruits and vegetables than I did before! As I am more excited to try new recipes, I have begun watching cooking videos on YouTube for meal inspiration! Seeing these videos inspires me to try more complicated dishes or make plant-based versions of my favorite meals, so that plant-based meals can become a more integral part of my diet! One YouTuber I would recommend is Caitlin Shoemaker - she makes creative and comforting vegan meals that look amazing!