On the 26th of October, Eco-Action partnered with the student farm to host a plant powered event. The clubs came together with food samples, activities, and educational stations to promote the environmental and health benefits that come with eating plant based meals.
For many students the words ‘plant based diet’ might raise memories of untouched brussel sprouts and mushy lumps of tofu. However, diets which include cutting back on meat encompass more than just leafy greens. When enacted in a healthy and balanced way, plant based eating includes many tasty alternatives such as fruits, beans, seeds, and nuts.
Incorporating these foods into eating habits–and reducing the consumption of processed foods, oils, and animal products–helps improve not only personal health, but the health of the earth as well.
Worldwide, food systems contribute heavily towards greenhouse gas emissions. Methane (a greenhouse gas emitted by cattle and sheep) emissions alone prove to be 93% higher for high-meat diets compared to vegan diets.
Meat consumption also contributes towards the depletion of earth’s resources. The global food system is said to use 70% of the world’s freshwater and cause 80% of river and lake pollution.
Making the switch to a plant based diet helps to improve these environmental issues. Vegan diets reduce wildlife destruction by 66% and water use by 54%.
Diets such as veganism also prove to be effective in overall physical health. Studies show that vegetarians have 29% lower ischemic heart disease mortality than nonvegetarians.
As global warming and America’s health worsens, making the switch to a plant based diet may seem enticing. However, making dietary changes can be daunting and when done improperly, detrimental.
One of the main concerns for vegans and vegetarians is protein deficiency. Meat serves as a major source of protein in a typical American diet, and without it health issues can arise.
Therefore, when reducing meat consumption, it’s important to derive essential amino acids elsewhere. These nutrients can be found in many other foods such as brown rice, beans, hummus, and whole wheat bread.
During the holiday season, many find it difficult to eat plant based meals. This means that food waste and meat consumption during Thanksgiving and Christmas increase greatly, thus contributing to growing environmental problems.
For the average Thanksgiving dinner serving 12 people, a total of 103 pounds of CO2 is released into the atmosphere:
- Turkey contributes 64 pounds
- Stuffing contributes 25 pounds
- Mashed potatoes contribute 9 pounds
- Cranberry sauce contributes 2 pounds
- Pie contributes 3 pounds
Removing meat from this equation reduces the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere by 80%. This number makes sweet and savory temptations turn sour in the mouths of carnivores.
To show gratitude towards the earth this Thanksgiving, reduce the amount of animal products on the table. Try vegetarian alternatives like vegetable stuffing or cut down on dairy with vegan pies.
While strategies like this may be feasible in your kitchen at home, back in the dorms making dietary adjustments can seem close to impossible. However, with proper research and resources, plant based meals become both feasible and tasty.
For students living on campus, the dining halls offer a surprising amount of plant based meals like oatmeal, salads, grain bowls, and veggie sandwiches.
As for off campus students, check out these recipes to bolster your repertoire of plant based meals:
Buying ingredients for meals like these can stack up fast. Shopping in bulk for vegan replacements such as tofu, beans, hummus, nut butter, chickpeas, and oat milk is one way to make pricey foods more affordable.
Shopping locally also helps to cut costs. Every Tuesday in downtown State college, a local farmers market offers seasonal produce from 11AM to 3PM.
Even with adequate preparation, making the transition to a plant based diet can be daunting. Transition foods, like faux meats, and minor adjustments to routine diets, like doing meatless mondays, help to make this transition easier.
However you decide to do it, eating plant-based meals this holiday season and beyond will help to address our growing environmental crisis. The Earth is in your hands (and your stomach)!
Sources:
https://brightly.eco/blog/carbon-footprint-of-thanksgiving-dinner