Alchemy of Politics with Rusha Modi

Ep. 8 - How to Eat to Save the World: Food, Earth, and People with Dana Ellis Hunnes PhD RD MPH

May 02, 2022 Rusha Modi
Alchemy of Politics with Rusha Modi
Ep. 8 - How to Eat to Save the World: Food, Earth, and People with Dana Ellis Hunnes PhD RD MPH
Show Notes

Do you want to be a more sustainable consumer but don’t know where to start? There are different ways in which we can keep ourselves healthy and save the planet. That’s what  Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes discloses in her book  Recipe for Survival: What You Can Do to Live a Healthier and More Environmentally Friendly Life. This book outlines the problems we are facing and presents ideas or 'recipes' to empower us, to help us all make a difference. Pay close attention since Dr. Dana will show us how our daily choices have a great impact on the environment. Let’s dive into how to eat to save the world!

Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes is an Assistant Professor with the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA and a Senior Dietitian at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.  She has dedicated herself to understanding the relationships between climate change, food choices, and food security, and how they affect our health. She earned her BS in nutrition and human biology from Cornell University, her RD at Emory University, and her Masters of Public Health (MPH) and Ph.D. in climate change and food security from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

Key Highlights:

[00:01 -09:56] - Opening Segment

Dr. Dana’s insights about the climate implications of food 

What could happen if we don't reform the way that we grow food and handle meat 

What we eat is a big contributor to the environmental emissions

[09:57 - 18:31] The Ticking Clock Right Time is Critical Here with Climate Change

How showing people real-world comparisons can make the difference

Dr. Dana’s outlook on why meat oriented dishes, restaurants, and cuisine tend to be considered more sophisticated 

Conflicts between personal health or what we believe some foods might be in terms of their health value versus their ecological impact

[18:32- 28:02] - Provide Healthy and Environmentally Friendly Foods

Dr. Dana explains what milk alternatives she recommends

The explosion and startups with mock meats and plant-based meats

The current status of private businesses providing healthy but environmentally friendly foods

What the implication for health differences are between  different kinds of eggs

[28:03 - 37:40] -  Keep Ourselves Healthy But Not Destroy The Planet At The Same Time

The reason why Dr. Dana decided to write the book

Understanding the role of food in our culture

How do we get a healthier dialogue about food

[37:41 - 39:11] - Closing Segment

Want to connect with Dana Ellis? Follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. Head to Dana Ellis Hunnes, and learn more about the actions we can all take, starting today. 

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