Calm down, we are not going to convince you that you should go into the veggie world overnight, or anything like that. But… did you know that according to the latest report from the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Expert Group , it would be advisable to start by reducing meat consumption in Western countries? If you want to find out the reasons and the easiest tricks for taking this step, read on!
Not all foods have the same impact on the environment
Strange as it may seem, the breeding of cows produces more greenhouse effect emissions than the gases emitted by cars, as indicated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In addition to being extremely contaminating to the atmosphere, livestock is one of the main causes of the degradation of soil and water resources.
According to data from the study “ The water footprint of farm animal and products ” to produce a beef steak, approximately 3,700 liters of water are needed, an infinitely greater amount if compared to other foods.
| Foods | Liters of water per kg of food |
| Vegetables | 197 |
| Fruit | 962 |
| Cereals | 1644 |
| eggs | 3265 |
| Legumes | 4055 |
| Chicken | 4325 |
| Pig | 5988 |
| Beef | 15415 |
We are not asking you to stop consuming meat, but explaining why international organizations talk about reducing their consumption in Western countries. One of the big problems we face today is the uneven distribution of food resources!
Health issue
Although animal foods provide many nutrients that are beneficial to our health, it is also true that the amount of animal protein we consume is well above the healthy eating recommendations issued by official bodies ( 0.8 g / kg body weight / day ) . Therefore, reducing meat consumption would not only be beneficial for the environment but also for our health.
Is it possible to have a healthy and sustainable diet?
In recent years, government institutions like the UN have created initiatives, such as the ActNow campaign , inviting people from all over the world to participate in the fight against climate change through small changes in their lifestyle. These changes include increasing consumption of more sustainable foods, prioritizing plant-based foods in the dishes we eat daily and reducing consumption of those of animal origin.
On the other hand, the well-known scientific magazine The Lancet released information stating what quantities of meat would be recommended to eat in order to have a healthy and environmentally friendly diet. According to The Lancet’s recommendations, to cover our protein needs we should choose from a wide variety of foods and not prioritize animal sources:
| Protein sources | g / day |
| Legumes | 100 |
| Chicken | 29 |
| Fish | 28 |
| Dry fruits | 25 |
| eggs | 13 |
| Pig | 7 |
| Cow and lamb | 7 |
If you find it difficult to find vegetable meat substitutes in your usual supermarket, take a look at our Organic Food category, where you can find everything from vegetable snacks to dishes prepared without meat.
Advice to reduce meat consumption
If you are a meat lover and don’t know how to reduce your consumption, take a look at the following tips!
It starts little by little : if you are used to eating animal products in all your meals, reducing your consumption by force is not a realistic goal. Start by making some substitution from time to time or propose not to eat meat one day a week.
Decrease meat rations : instead of eating 3 steaks with potatoes, opt for a good vegetable dish with some meat. The key is in the combinations!
Plan your food: plan your weekly menu in advance and prepare a shopping list before going to the supermarket. This point is one of the most important to avoid using the hamburger at the last minute.
Open your mind : when you go out to eat pay attention to the letter. There are delicious dishes made with vegetables and vegetables and most restaurants already have options for vegetarians.
Disclose your new goal: if your friends and family know that you set out to reduce meat consumption, they will surely recommend hundreds of recipes and restaurants to you as well as supporting you in your change process. Who knows, maybe they decide to help you!
