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If you really love summer, I’m willing to bet that you really love summer street snacks too. All sorts of tasty Americana fun can be found at carnivals and festivals, on boardwalks and block parties. But not all of the eats are good for you—or the planet.
Use this guide to help navigate summer’s tantalizing treats before sinking another tooth into that corndog. Yes, I repeat. Step away from the corndog.
6 Eco-Friendlier Food Options for 6 Eco-Sinful Snacks
Ice Cream
You Pine for Ice Cream: Unless you’ve made it yourself, there will be no telling what brand ice cream you’re indulging in at a generic street vendor—if it’s local or using organic dairy products.
Greener Eats: What you can do though is ask for your cool, creamy treat to be scooped into a cone as opposed to a cup. That way, the packaging is edible and sans the wasteful plastic spoon. Did I mention tasty, too?
Gyros and Kebobs
You Need Meat: The ethnic, exotic wafts of meaty goodness are trailing your way and you’re hankering for something more substantial than a sugary snack. A gyro or kebob might seem like the answer but behind that deliciousness lays a heavy carbon footprint.
Greener Eats: Opt for falafel. The meat-free meal will sate your taste for savory and pack in enough protein (falafel is made of ground chickpeas) to keep you riding high.
Hot Dogs and Hamburgers
You Hanker for America on a Plate: How can you go wrong with a burger or dog, you ask? Yes, it’s a safe choice when it comes to the taste-factor but is it really safe in your stomach? Hot dogs’ sodium nitrates and other additives have been linked to cancer, not to mention heart un-friendly trans-fats. And just like their other red meat companions, gyros and kebobs, they cross the finish line as carbon-heavy.
Greener Eats: Here in the Northeast at least, hearty, grilled turkey legs top the list of favorite fair foods. And for meat-eaters, this lean-protein poultry proves healthier for them—and a bit more for the planet. Turkeys are native to the U.S., especially New England—making the carbon footprint minimal.
Popcorn
You Crave Salt: And the delicate popping of corn plus the buttery aroma has you bee-ling towards to the popcorn stand. While it isn’t the most sinful of snacks and certainly would be better than cotton candy or a snow cone, it does have an even healthier, more fiber-full alternative that’s also sans-waste.
Greener Eats: Roasted corn on the cob. Unlike popcorn’s paper bag (sometimes plastic) packaging, an ear of corn comes in its own natural biodegradable casing--a husk. Furthermore, you’ll still get your salty, butter fix in the freshest form available.
Corndogs
You Simply Would Love Something on a Stick: Eating on a stick is a standard in street food culture so I don’t blame your curiosity or desire. It’s sort of like being a kid again! But need I remind you again, step away from the corndog. Dogs are already downright unhealthy and over-processed—need we dip them into saturated fat-laden fried batter?
Greener Eats: Sate your stick requisite with a caramel apple instead. Yes, it’s not perfectly healthy with the sugar and all, but it’s a step above. And at the core of the treat lies a vitamin-packed fruit that’s also local to those living up North.
Soda
You Lust for a Cold Drink: Need something to wash down all your greener eats? Skip the corn-syrup derived soft drinks (with bad eco-reputations) for a beverage that’s just as refreshing but also a bit more eco-responsible.
Greener Eats: Local beers surely abound but if you’re jonesing from something sweet, fresh squeezed lemonade, made on location, will hit the spot a tad more sustainably. Just think of all the energy costs that go into factory-made drinks!
So where do other sinful summer eats like funnel cakes, churros, and cotton candy lie on the spectrum of green summer eats? Though high on the delicious meter, pretty low. Cotton candy is teaming with chemical ingredients (unless it’s organic, vegan and fair-trade) and funnel cakes and churros are deep fried—all requiring lots of energy to make. Try to resist these altogether but for the times your itch for fried dough takes over your eco-rational, at least seek out a booth or merchant making them homemade.
Bon eco-Appétit!
More on Summer Eating:
Green Summer Gourmet Series
Have a Summer Get Together
How to Go Green: Eating
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