April 12, 2012

be vegetarian...even if it's only once or twice a week

I became a vegetarian on a dare when I was 18. My mother said I couldn't last 3 weeks without meat, and I said I was going to prove her wrong. It's been 12 years now.
I think I won the dare.

While I started out my meat-free livelihood on a whim, over the years the reasons for vegetarianism have been stacking up. And now, it seems, I may never go back to the world of steak, hamburgers, and chicken nuggets (although, these taste pretty convincing, ask vincent) that you all seem to enjoy so much.

While I could go on about the morality and ethics of eating dead (or living) animal flesh, I know most of you just don't care.

However, eating meat is not only a moral issue. It is an environmental one.

Studies are showing that the livestock sector is responsible for more than its fair share of C02, methane, and ammonia emissions while also accelerating deforestation and polluting our waterways. (see here, here for examples).

You all care about the environment right? Right?
So how about you go find a few new recipes to try out this week--VeggieNumNum and My Darling Lemon Thyme are good places to start. Eating vegetarian, even if only once or twice a week, can greatly reduce your environmental footprint. More than if you bought a hybrid! (Not to mention it's also cheaper and healthier than a meat-full diet.)

It's time to start addressing the real issues affecting the planet. Not just the ones with solutions encouraging us to buy more fancy stuff.

1 comment:

PK said...

As "mom", i will vouch for the dedication the author has made to vegetarianism whether it was to prove me wrong or to live a healthier life we may never know for sure....but she has stayed her path and steered me away from the "meaty" path as well!