No one likes being told what to eat, but it always shocks me when I consider the mega environmental impact of meat, particularly red meat. This is why I cut red meat out of my diet a while ago. Here’s a shocking fact:
If everyone in the US ate no meat or cheese for just 1 day a week, it would be like NOT driving 91 billion miles or taking 7.6 million cars off the road.
You’ve got to admit, even if you are a meat-eating family, that not eating animal products for just 1 day a week is totally doable for everyone, right?
The Environmental Working Group did a full analysis of the impact of meat on the environment (taking every part of production and by-products into account,) and there discovered that the following were the worst, in descending order.
- Lamb (the absolute worst)
- Beef
- Cheese
- Pork
- Farmed Salmon
If you are a bacon or sausage lover, remember that it takes 5-6 pounds of feed to produce just 1 pound of pork, and it’s almost double for beef. It’s not just the feed, it’s also the crazy amount of water that is required – in a world where clean, drinking water is become a very valuable resource.
Granted, Factory Farmed meat is the worst, but even your free-range, organic and hormone-free meats stamp a heavy impact on our planet, too.
Eating fish has an enormous impact on our planet because we are over-fishing our oceans to the point of extinction. Before buying fish, please consult the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s guide on which fish is sustainable.
The Mediterranean Diet is one that is very planet-friendly because it focuses on veggies and grains. A beautiful bowl of pasta topped with veggies and herbs is extremely low-impact. My Summer favorite recipe is a bowl of Barilla Plus (pull of protein and Omega 3’s) topped with chopped up herbs (basil, parsley, mint and olive oil), and topped with Vegan Parma Cheese. The great thing about good-quality pasta is that it makes eating a vegan diet really easy. Eaten in moderate portion, and covered with fresh herbs and veggies, it’s a great way to fill your family up with goodness.
