Green Cuisine
What type of food generally has a lower carbon footprint: plant-based foods or beef?
Plant-based foods
Water animal do sea turtles often mistake plastic bags as?
Jellyfish
What is compost primarily made from?
Decomposed organic materials, such as food scraps, leaves, and grass clippings.
Which is better for reducing waste: using a reusable water bottle or repeatedly buying disposable bottles?
Using a reusable water bottle
What is the main greenhouse gas released by burning fossil fuels?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
What is one environmental benefit of buying locally grown food?
It can reduce transportation emissions and support local agriculture.
How can fertilizer runoff harm aquatic ecosystems?
It can cause algal blooms that reduce oxygen levels in the water.
What two main types of materials should be balanced in a compost pile?
“Greens” (nitrogen-rich materials) and “browns” (carbon-rich materials).
What does “downcycling” mean?
Recycling a material into a product of lower quality or functionality than the original.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate describes long-term patterns.
What greenhouse gas is released in large amounts when organic food waste decomposes without enough oxygen in landfills?
Methane (CH₄)
What is biomagnification?
The increasing concentration of certain pollutants in organisms at higher levels of a food chain.
Why does composting generally produce much less methane than sending food waste to a landfill?
Composting is an aerobic process, meaning it has oxygen available, while buried organic waste in landfills often decomposes anaerobically, producing methane.
What is “wishcycling”?
Putting something in the recycling bin because you hope it is recyclable, even when you aren't sure it is accepted.
Why does deforestation contribute to climate change?
Trees absorb CO₂, so removing forests reduces carbon storage and can release stored carbon into the atmosphere.