Why Meatless?

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Going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.

Read about these benefits below. But keep in mind that just going meatless is not enough. That’s why we give you the information you need to add healthy, environmentally friendly meat-free alternatives to your diet each week.

Health Benefits

  • REDUCE RISK OF HEART DISEASE. Beans, peas, lentils, nuts and seeds contain little to no saturated fats. Reducing your intake of saturated fats can help keep your cholesterol low and reduce your risk of heart disease.
  • MAINTAIN HEALTHY WEIGHT. A plant-based diet is a great source of fiber, which is absent in animal products. Foods rich in fiber make you feel full with fewer calories, resulting in lower calorie intake and less overeating. On average, Americans get less than half the recommended daily quantity of fiber.[1]
  • IMPROVE OVERALL QUALITY OF DIET. Consuming dry beans or peas results in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron and magnesium with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat.[2]

Environmental Benefits

  • REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide . . . far more than transportation.[3] And annual worldwide demand for meat continues to grow. Reining in meat consumption once a week can help slow this trend.
  • MINIMIZE WATER USAGE. The water needs of livestock are tremendous, far above those of vegetables or grains. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef.[4] Soy tofu produced in California requires 220 gallons of water per pound.[5]
  • HELP REDUCE FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCE. On average, about 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S.[6] Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein.[7] Moderating meat consumption is a great way to cut fossil fuel demand.

Notes:

  1. Moshfegh, Alanna; Goldman, Joseph; and Cleveland, Linda. 2005. What We Eat in America, NHANES 2001-2002: Usual Nutrient Intakes from Food Compared to Dietary Reference Intakes. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.
  2. Mitchell DC, Lawrence FR, et al. Consumption of dry beans, peas, and lentils could improve diet quality in the US population. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 May;109(5):909-13.
  3. Steinfeld, H., et al., Livestock’s long shadow: Environmental issues and options. 2006, Food and
    Agriculture Oganization of the United Nations: Rome, Italy
  4. Kreith, M., Water Inputs in California Food Production. 1991, Water Education Foundation: Sacramento,
    CA.
  5. Kreith, M., Water Inputs in California Food Production. 1991, Water Education Foundation: Sacramento,
    CA.
  6. Pimentel, D. and M. Pimentel, Sustainability of meat-based and plant-based diets and the environment.
    American Joural of Clinical Nutrition, 2003. 78: p. 66S-3S.
  7. Pimentel, D. and M. Pimentel, Sustainability of meat-based and plant-based diets and the environment.
    American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2003. 78: p. 1.