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If you really want to go green, the most immediate thought many of us have is to buy a hybrid. Can’t afford it? There is a faster and cheaper option: shift to a low-carbon diet.

The meal plan of the average family in a developed country accounts for 2.8 tons of CO2 emitted annually, compared with 2.2 tons for driving. Worldwide agriculture contributes some 30% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, far more than transportation. So when it comes to cutting your carbon footprint today, the truth is that what you eat is as important as what you drive.

It may be hard to believe that a meal at McDonald's produces more carbon than your trip to the drive-through. That is until you consider just how vast and energy-intensive the global food system is. More than 37% of the world's land is used for agriculture. The fertilizer and machinery needed on a modern farm also have a large carbon footprint, as does the network of ships and trucks that moves the food to your plate. On average, it takes 7 to 10 times as much fossil-fuel energy to produce and ship food as we get from eating it.

So what does a low-carbon diet mean? Essentially, it means eating green. A green diet would comprise mostly vegetables and fruits, whole grains, fish and lean meats like chicken--a diet that's eco- and waistline friendly. The very foods with a high carbon cost--red meat, pork, dairy products, processed snacks--also tend to be laden with fat and calories. Eating green is good for you!

Click here to read the full article in Time Magazine.