To help guests understand how to their food choices contributed to global warming, we built an interactive Low Carbon Diet Calculator.
The Low Carbon Diet Calculator worked according to a point system, similar in concept to Weight Watchers™. It was designed for eaters ranging from burgers-and-fries fans to farmers’ market aficionados. The point values were based on lifecycle assessment studies from published research gathered by two teams of science advisors. More than 40 peer-reviewed papers were studied.
The calculator allowed you to “drag and drop” menu items into your virtual pan. Common favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner meals were on the menu, along with build-your-own options with vegetables, fruits, meats – even portion sizes and cooking methods could be calculated for a total score. Diners chose from sample meals to lower their carbon points to the minimum level – while still leaving room for guilty pleasures, as it’s the total of CO2e emissions on your plate that counts.
