Photo Courtesy of Christian Rasmussenapoltix.dk
I have a confession. I love my microwave. Why is this even a confession, you may wonder? Or, how could someone who calls herself a natural mamma even think about zapping her (and her family’s) food with a microwave oven? Well, let me tell you. It just might be good for the environment.
While on my quest to learn more about energy conservation and how to make easy changes around our home, I stumbled across the fact that households who rely on their microwave oven may reduce cooking energy by up to 80 percent! That’s right. I now have a legitimate reason for not wanting to use my stove top to prepare food for my family (dare I say “cook”). Of course, pressing the start button on your microwave may not necessarily be the answer to reducing global warming. Yes, I’m back pedaling a bit. Here’s why:
1. Microwaving food may save 50 percent more energy than conventional ovens (Energy Star says that you’ll save up to 80 percent more energy with a microwave); however, these numbers and statistics only work when you’re preparing a small portion of food (i.e. left overs). So, based on these stats, you have every reason to be a pro-leftovers for supper kind of guy or gal.
2. Microwave ovens may zap the nutrition out of your good-for-you foods. More precisely, microwaves alter the chemistry of the foods, so the healthy nutrients are pretty much lost after a short rendezvous in the ‘wave. Based on the research I am reading, the verdict on how much radiation is unhealthy for us versus “potentially okay” is still out. Possible solutions? Zap your leftovers for a few seconds to a few minutes versus cooking an entire meal with your microwave.
3. Packaging for microwavable meals adds up to a whole lot of trash. As someone who stays out of the kitchen (except when Annabelle wants to bake or I have been wooed in for one reason or another) and as the sole vegetarian in my house (my dear little one is now eating organic chicken), many of my meals consist of whatever my husband is cooking plus a veggie burger, veggie dog, hummus/beans or veggie pizza. I do my very best to steer clear of animal products (including cheese and eggs), but what that means is that I tend to buy vegetarian foods that are shelved at the grocery store with alotta packaging. My solution? Well, as it turns out, my vegetarian starter kit (I ordered it out of curiosity even though I’ve been a veg. for close to 8 years) from the Compassionate Action for Animals just arrived with several recipes and a food triangle that shows vegetarians and vegans how to meet their daily nutritional needs without doing any harm to animals. I am psyched! I plan to try a few of their recipes in the coming week.
4. Microwaves may make you fat. The argument that microwaved food = a big butt (for many of us) is based on the idea that since microwaves zap the nutritional value of foods, our bodies end up craving additional calories (err, food) that pack a real nutritional punch. So, lest you long for a wide set of hips, it may do your hips some good to work (or turn on) the stove.
So, on the one hand, you’re doing our environment a favor by reducing your energy consumption when you reheat your food in the microwave, but on the other hand, you might be doing your health (and your family’s too) a disservice by zapping your food.
What say you? Are you a microwave fanatic? Or, do you scorn those who whip up their meals with the ‘wave?
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=3ef33a31-d5cf-42eb-b320-6d7c85c9f6d3)
{ 9 comments }
I don’t frequently use my microwave. I will use it to warm up my hubby’s coffee or some maple syrup when I make pancakes, but other than that I tend to skip it. Oh, and sometimes I warm up leftovers, too.
I agree with you in terms of packaging. Those frozen meals that I used to be hooked on, thinking they were “healthy,” came with a lot of plastic. Now, I rarely buy them and instead will make my lunch. Not only does it seem more filling to me, but I’m convinced that it’s healthier, too, since the foods are fresh.
One thing I try to do is to use all that heat that my oven generates… for example, if I’m making something that has to bake for a while, I’ll make a pie or a crisp, too, to double up on the amount of food made with the same amount of energy from my oven. Also, I may make two of something and freeze one for later (like a lasagna). I try not to use the oven in the summer, because the house just gets too hot! But in the cold winter, I certainly don’t mind.
Very interesting article, Greenmamma! I guess there are always 2 sides to every coin. I am curious how microwaves zap the nutrition out of food, and how long food must be microwaved to do that…Do you suggest any references for this?
I primarily use the microwave to “warm up” food (leftovers), not to cook it. The exception is frozen veges, I was under the impression that it was better to cook them in the microwave because you can use less water and, essentially, steam them, therefore preserving more vitamins. I, like Prasanna, didn’t know that the microwave zapped nutrients out of food. I, too, would love to know more.
Prasanna and Melanie, the resources I referenced for my “microwaving” research include Rebecca Ephraim’s “To Microwave or Not” at http://www.consciouschoice.com/2001/cc1411/healthconscious1411.html
as well as Mike Adam’s “Microwave Ovens Destroy the Nutritional Value of Your Food” at http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_6463.cfm
I hope that helps! Next time, I’ll be sure to list my sources. =)
I recently gave up my microwave in favor of a counter-top convection oven. I lost almost 10 pounds in the first two weeks, just from not eating those packaged microwave dinners! I’ve been trying to practice more green living since reading Green Goes With Everything, and this is just one of the positive changes I’ve been able to make.
I use the microwave to heat up leftovers and sometimes to bake potatoes (oh, the shame). In a pinch, I’ve used it to quickly cook veggies.
Thanks for the references. I am so glad you brought this to my attention.
e&P, I love zapping sweet potatoes in the microwave, although I have to say that since learning about how microwaves can affect our food, I may rethink that one. It’s an ongoing job to live in a green and healthy way, isn’t it?
Also, Prasanna, I am glad to have posted this topic. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk more about microwaves and our food. I always learn more when my readers challenge me to dig deeper.
Ruth, congratulations on your weight loss! I bet others will be glad to learn that you’re living a healthier lifestyle without relying too much on your microwave. As I mentioned, preparing vegetarian foods for just 1 person (me) in my house pushes me towards the microwave, but I am also trying to learn recipes for making veg. foods in larger quantities and relying on my conventional oven and stove rather than the ‘wave.
By the way, I can’t wait to check out Green Goes with Everything! =)
Comments on this entry are closed.