Callenbach's green triangle

I have been off the chocolate crepes for 5 weeks and, let me tell you, it's been a challenge. But after 3 people congratulated me for my pregnancy over the summer, when I am not pregnant, I could no longer kid myself that that flowery blouse that I stretched at the seams was shrinking in the wash. No, I have been expanding.

So time to cut back. Which gives me an opportunity to reflect on Callenbach's triangle. I came across this concept in The Lilypad List.



Here is what Marian Van Eyk McCain has to say about it:

'Ernest Callenbach speaks of what he calls "The Green Triangle". (...) The three points of the triangle are:

Saving Money
Caring for the Environment
Being Healthy

'Callenbach points out that whenever you do something beneficial for one of the points on that triangle, you will almost certainly be doing something beneficial for the other two as well, whether intentionally or otherwise.
'He gives the example of deciding to improve one's health, by eating less fatty meat and dairy products. Not only would such a decision lower one's chance of circulatory disease, and have a number of other health benefits as well, it would also save money, since meat and dairy products are relatively expensive items. Furthermore, such a decision would benefit the environment too. Meat production is one of the most wasteful uses of agricultural land and therefore takes up farm resources that could be better used in other ways.
'He goes on to explain that you can start at any point of the triangle and get the same result. When you do something beneficial for the environment, like walking or bicycling instead of driving, you are helping to cut down pollution emissions (...). But at the same time you are creating a benefit for your own health, since you will get more exercise. And of course by leaving your car at home you will save a lot of money on petrol, oil and care repairs.'

(Although, saving money by buying cheap clothes produced in sweat shops with synthetic fibres does not sound like a good starting point.)

Applied to my case, I have stopped eating chocolate crepes to lose weight, which is good for my health. I produce less waste as I don't need to dispose of the plastic packaging anymore, which is good for the environment, and I have saved £8.75!