By Kristen O'Gorman
Photo by: hannamariah
Did you know that by becoming a vegan or vegetarian, you could help save the planet? If each of us were to cut down the amount of meat we eat by just 20 percent, it would have the same effect as if everyone switched from driving a regular car (like a Toyota Camry) to a hybrid car (like a Toyota Prius), according to a recent study by the University of Chicago. At least 30 percent of the earth's land is involved with livestock production, and this production accounts for nearly a fifth of the world's greenhouse gases. Yikes!
One of the problems is that the global demand for meat has increased dramatically over the past few decades. In 1961, the world's total meat supply was 71 million tons. Today, it's estimated at more than 284 million tons. On a typical day, we're ingesting more than twice the recommended allowance of protein, mostly from animal products — the average American eats 110 grams of protein per day, with 75 grams of that coming straight from animals. The excessive amount of animals being raised for us to consume is a huge burden on our environment. In fact, it's estimated that just one dairy cow produces more waste than 20 to 40 humans.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Consider cutting back on the amount of meat that you ingest. Aside from the environmental benefits, there are a plethora of health reasons to cut down on meat — for example, red meat in particular exposes us to carcinogens.
While vegetarians don't eat any meat products, vegans take it a few steps further — they don't eat any animal by-products (like milk, cheese, or honey), and they don't use any products made from animals (like leather or suede). But you don't have to go vegan to help the environment — being a vegetarian has a huge effect as well!
WHAT TO EAT
If you're considering going vegan or vegetarian, you're in luck. Most grocery stores carry a huge variety of meat and dairy alternatives. These products are typically soy-based, which helps replace the protein that you'll miss by cutting out meat. Vegetable burgers, like Boca Burgers, are a delicious alternative to a traditional burger. And there are tons of meatless products you can buy that actually look and taste like meat. Additionally, many companies are proving that milk doesn't have to come from a cow — soy, rice, and almond milk can be even more delicious than your standard milk! For the vegan, products made from soy, rice, or nuts can replace dairy. You can get milk, cheese, butter, mayonnaise, sour cream, frozen treats — anything!
GETTING ENOUGH NUTRIENTS
A common concern when considering cutting out meat is whether you'll get enough protein. But consider this: The typical meat-eating American eats twice the recommended daily intake of protein, and nearly 70 percent of that protein comes from meat. So even if you're not eating meat, you can get more than enough protein to stay healthy from vegetables, legumes, seeds, nuts, fruits, and whole grains.
Find some delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes here! And check out Earth to CG! for more ways to go green.
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