As recent news is helping us to become more aware of our environment and planet health, I want to share my thoughts on plant-based eating, with a little help from Sophie Egan via her book, "How to be a Conscious Eater".
You've likely heard by now that protecting the planet is the single most important reason to reduce meat consumption. Our planet needs people to eat more plant-based foods and less animals. Let me emphasize that I am saying "eat MORE plant-based foods and LESS animals", not "I want you to stop eating meat". (OK, truth be told, I would actually love it if you stopped eating meat, but I'm aware that may not be what's best for you.)
Think about it, animal-based foods are less efficient uses of natural resources because you're growing animal feed and relying on these creatures to convert that feed into the food that humans eat, rather than just growing food for humans to eat directly. By just about every metric used to evaluate the environmental impact of making food, the plant kingdom beats the animal kingdom by a long shot.
Consider a flexitarian diet - eating mostly vegetarian with meat and fish added only occasionally. This alone could cut total livestock emissions in half, and greatly lower your risk for developing a major chronic illness.
Cutting back on red meat is the most important and effective. For a better planet and better health, look for delicious, satisfying ways to cut your red meat intake. Experts recommend aiming for a little under four ounces at most per week, or about one hamburger a week or two servings of steak per month. (Our current average here in America is the equivalent of three hamburgers per week.)
If working toward a more planet friendly, healthy, plant-based diet seems overwhelming or difficult, please let me help you figure it out. I've been a vegetarian for almost 25 years and love to eat delicious food. It takes a little more planning at first to make sure you're staying healthy, but otherwise it's a relatively simple transition.
Bottom line here is our planet can use our help and this isn't a huge ask. Enjoy that hamburger or steak (or chicken or pork), just not as often. Mix things up with some veggie tacos using beans and rice; throw salads together with nuts, seeds, chickpeas and avocado; make your own black bean burgers or cauliflower wings. There are so many scrumptious options. Seriously, you will probably wonder why you haven't tried this sooner.
Please give this a little thought. It's important and you can make a difference. Thanks much... and take care of you, yeah?
