Eat Less Meat

The switch to a vegetarian diet can be a difficult one. Thankfully, there are ways to significantly cut back on the amount of meat you eat while still allowing yourself the occasional burger or bacon. 

The easiest solution would be "Meatless Mondays". All you have to do is go without any meat just one day a week. One step further would be a "weekday vegetarian diet" (Hill). Monday through Friday, you would not eat meat, but on the weekends, you are free to eat whatever you'd like. 

The animals we eat are being fed what should be our food. Cows and pigs are fed 80% of the corn grown in North America. Some people believe that there is a food shortage that is becoming a growing problem as our population grows. However, if we fed our livestock less of our food, we would have more to go around.

We all love our steaks and burgers and chicken tenders. There is no doubt about that. But what exactly is our favorite food doing to the environment? Much more than we think. 

The meat industry causes pollution and uses up valuable land and resources. “Meat, amazingly, causes more emissions than all of transportation combined,” (Hill). Think about the smog-choked city of Pittsburg. Then imagine that on a global scale, times about 5. That is what the meat industry is doing to our air. “Animal agriculture takes up an incredible 70% of all agricultural land, and 30% of the total land surface of the planet.” (Freston 46). That is 30% that we could use to grow crops for the poverty stricken areas of the world. Though its a stretch, it is possible that the meat industry is a cause of the hunger we see in many third world countries. 

Vegetarian diets are growing in popularity. Many people choose the veggie life to lose weight, speak out for animals, or even to fit in with friends. But did you know there is yet another reason to go vegetarian, a reason that is arguably more important than the others? 

Switching from meat to plants has a huge impact on the environment! In fact, it can have more impact on the environment “than by switching to a Prius.” (Freston 46). That's right. You don't have to go out and buy an expensive hybrid car. You can just sub that hamburger for a delicious portobello mushroom burger.