A Better World recently launched a campaign to encourage people to eat meatless meals at least three days per week, because eating meatless meals will not only help improve your health but it will also benefit the environment!  

It is a well known scientific fact that most chronic diseases are rooted in poor nutritional habits, and that eating more plant-based foods is an important practice in disease prevention.  However, what many do not know is that eating plant-based foods will also improve the environment.   According to the goveg.com website (http://www.goveg.com/environment.asp), "If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads." Why?  Greenhouse gasses and other environmental problems are largely due to the continuously mounting demand for livestock.  To be exact, livestock produces 18% of greenhouse gas emissions—more than from cars, buses and airplanes. 

 In terms of animal consumption Americans eat twice the global average, which is about 8 ounces per day.  University of Chicago scientists calculated that if Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 20 percent it would be as if we all switched from a standard sedan — a Camry, say — to the ultra-efficient Prius.  Similarly, a study last year by the National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science in Japan estimated that 2.2 pounds of beef is responsible for the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the average European car every 155 miles, and burns enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for nearly 20 days.  The animal welfare group Compassion in World Farming has calculated that if meat consumption in the UK were cut in half, it would reduce more emissions than if car usage were cut in half.   Choosing to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead of a hamburger saves the equivalent of 3.5 pounds of gas emissions.   

That’s some pretty heavy science.  Basically, the facts stated above send clear and important message—eating a plant based diet is better for the environment.  The United Nations in a bold move is promoting less animal consumption.  Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, and chair of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that eating less meat should be an immediate course of action (http://www.ciwf.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2008/l/london_08sept08.pps).  He wants people to give up meat one day a week and decrease it from there.   

Some may be asking themselves, “How can I do this?”  Adapting a plant-based diet is not as hard as you think.  There are so many vegetarian options available now, in stores and at restaurants.  Going online is a great resource for recipes, supermarkets and restaurants that have vegetarian options in your area.  From fruit smoothies to delicious grilled vegetable sandwiches and meat free lasagna, you won’t miss the meat and the planet will thank you for it. 

If your are interested in joining the campaign to eat more meatless meals click on the “Act” button under the “Take Action” category of the newsletter and sign up.