Why I Eat Plant-Based (& why you should try it)

I’ve heard it all before. “You’re vegetarian? Oh my gosh, I could NEVER live without (insert some type of meat here).” Let me tell you right off the bat, you can. I know the concept of going vegan, vegetarian, or even just a little more plant-based is hard for people. So, I’m here to provide some tips on how to start a plant based diet and, more importantly, why you should. 

Reason 1: The Environment

Reducing your carbon footprint comes easy with a plant-based diet. Animal agriculture is the biggest contributor to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, more than the exhaust from every single kind of transportation on earth combined. One pound of beef needs 2,500 gallons of water to be produced, and 1 gallon of milk requires 1,000 gallons of water, much more than plant agriculture. Animal agriculture takes much more land, time and energy to produce. Therefore, the same amount of land is producing much less than it would if it were being used to fuel a plant-based lifestyle. 

Reason 2: Your health

A plant-based diet has been shown to reduce levels of inflammation, lower blood cholesterol and reduce the odds of developing type 2 diabetes. Eating higher amounts of fiber and antioxidants (which would occur in a plant-based diet) can help get your body on track to live a long, happy and healthy life.

Reason 3: Save the Animals!

But in a different way than you would think. Animal agriculture is the leading cause of species extinction. It’s even responsible for up to 91% of the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Runoff from crops, and pollution from meat processing plants, are also a huge problem for nearby species. You aren’t just saving the animals you would be eating, you’re also saving the animals that live on and around the land being destroyed for animal agriculture.

Helpful Tips:

• You don’t have to go 0 to 100: you can start slow. Maybe do “meatless Mondays” or make one meal every day with no meat. Get a friend or family member to do it with you, and hold each other accountable. If you go too fast, you risk burnout and reverting back to old habits. 
• Make it your goal, rather than something you are forcing yourself to do; this lifestyle will only work if YOU truly want it to. And don’t listen to other people’s criticism. It always surprises me to think that I’ve had people get angry with me simply because of what I choose to exclude from my diet. Make choices for you and you only.
• If you need more of the “why” behind going plant-based, watch some documentaries. A few that I’ve watched are Cowspiracy, What the Health, and Forks Over Knives. They provide a lot more in-depth information, and are very well produced.
• I love looking on Pinterest for recipes. It’s a lot less overwhelming to figure out how to exclude meat from your diet if you are excited about the meals you are making. A plant based diet is not just salads! There’s plenty of amazing recipes online or in cookbooks that allow you to cater your meals to whatever you prefer. 

I’ll just tell you now: this isn’t going to be super easy. But you 100% can learn to love vegetables, I promise. Take it from a girl who used to hate all things avocado, and now would literally put it on just about anything. Just give it a try, and maybe you’ll be surprised by how much you love it!

For more information, refer to https://www.cowspiracy.com/facts 

• environment
• health
• vegetarian