Climate Club Friends

When we think of saving the planet, how often does eating come to mind? We hear people talk about being a vegetarian or vegan for the planet’s sake, but do we know the reasons behind their decision? In this article, we’ll break down the following questions to share how your plate can become a powerful tool for change: how can eating one vegetarian meatless meal a week help save the planet? What are some simple steps and substitutes to eating less meat? And what are a few easy and delicious vegetarian meals you can make this week?

The Power of Your Plate

According to Cara Buckley, a climate reporter from the New York Times, “the food system is responsible for about one-third of planet-heating emissions, 70 percent of freshwater use and 78 percent of freshwater pollution.” Let’s break this down into some simpler terms:

The food system is responsible for ~⅓ of planet-heating emissions:

Planet-heating emissions include gases like methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (C02). When these gases are released into the environment, they trap heat in the atmosphere, increasing the earth’s temperature. Learn more about how greenhouse gases work in this video from Nasa Space Place on YouTube here!

Believe it or not, agricultural livestock, like cows, are large contributors to our changing climate because they take up a lot of land and are responsible for releasing large amounts of methane into the atmosphere. We’ve had to eliminate a lot of trees to make room for animals and fewer trees = more carbon dioxide in our air. Cattle and other livestock animals, mostly through burping, emit about 40% of all methane gas emissions.

Our food system is responsible for 70% of freshwater use:

Different foods take differing amounts of water to grow. Here are a few foods and their approximate water usage: hamburger, ½ pound (~616 gallons); chicken, 1 lb (~330 gallons), steak, 1 lb (1,232 gallons).

This may seem like a lot… and it is! But it includes everything from the beginning of planting to its cooking time. If we think of the food chain, higher-level consumers like carnivores (meat-eating animals) produce more carbon emissions; if you eat a plant, the only thing that has to grow is the plant, but if you eat an animal, you have to grow plants to feed the animal first and while living, the animal releases gases in the air simply because of its existence.

Agriculture is 78% responsible for freshwater pollution:

On our planet, less than 3% of our water is freshwater; most of our water is in the ocean as saltwater. I don’t believe there are many solutions yet for changing saltwater to freshwater, or at least ones that are easy-accessible and affordable! But agriculture is one of the world’s leading polluters because of the pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals that are used in growing crops. When it rains, water from farming can runoff impacting other water sources.

Simple Steps and Substitutes to Eat Less Meat

You don’t have to become a full-time vegetarian to eat less meat! One of the best ways to start is by simply incorporating ONE meatless meal into your weekly diet. According to Mayo Clinic, eating less meat might not only be good for the planet, but also your health. And if you’re worried about protein, there are plenty of protein-packed substitutes like “eggs, low-fat milk and products made from it, beans, peas, lentils, soy products, and unsalted nuts and seeds.”

Whether your reason for eating less meat is for you or for the planet, it’ll be easier to adapt your diet if you’re personally motivated. Here are a few more educational articles and videos for inspiration:

Quick and Easy Vegetarian Meals for Meatless Meal Prepping

Another important aspect of changing your diet (even if it’s just a littleeee bit!) is making it fun. This might be easier if you already enjoy cooking, but if you’ve never been much of an at-home chef, it’s a great week to start! I love learning about cooking, especially through YouTube. I recently got a New York Times subscription, and they have an enormous recipe catalog.

I’m not a vegetarian, but this is my rule: I cook 100% vegetarian at home, but will eat meat (sometimes) if I’m at a restaurant or (most always) if someone has prepared a meal for me. With that said, these are a few of my favorite quick and easy plant-based foods to make at home:

https://www.pickuplimes.com/recipe/turkish-red-lentil-soup-26

Potato & Red Lentil Soup by Pickup Limes
Pesto Pizza by Amy Knight (I use Trader Joe’s flatbread & a ripe, red tomato)
Sweet Corn & Black Bean Tacos by cookieandkate
Banana Pancakes by allrecipes
Healthy Apple Muffins by cookieandkate

TLDR — Article Actions & Takeaways

In summary, our agricultural industry plays a large part in our changing climate anywhere from polluting freshwater to increasing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. The good news is… you don’t have to be a full-time vegetarian or vegan to eat less meat. By incorporating just ONE meatless meal into your diet a week, your plate can make a positive impact on the environment and maybe even your own health! I know it might not seem like much of an impact if you eat less meat, but I’ve found that my actions tend to have a ripple effect on those around me, too.

If you’re ready to start eating less meat, join Climate Club Friends for #meatlessmondays! For recipes, community, and conversation on climate change, find us on Instagram here.

Sources & more reading here:

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Saving the Planet One Meatless Meal at a Time

The Power of Your Plate

Simple Steps and Substitutes to Eat Less Meat

Quick and Easy Vegetarian Meals for Meatless Meal Prepping

TLDR — Article Actions & Takeaways

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Saving the Planet One Meatless Meal at a Time

The Power of Your Plate

Simple Steps and Substitutes to Eat Less Meat

Quick and Easy Vegetarian Meals for Meatless Meal Prepping

TLDR — Article Actions & Takeaways

A Very Veggie Valentine’s Day

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