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So we all know that taking three-minute showers helps conserve water, which is awesome for the environment, but what about those of you having a hard time rushing through your showers? Not to fret, there’s another way to reduce your water footprint that’s so easy, it won’t even seem like you’re changing anything: Eat Less Meat.
Now, I’m not suggesting to go cold-turkey (hehe) and cut out meat all together. Cutting meat out for a day, or even just a meal, can make a huge impact on the environment. It takes 108 gallons of water to produce a pound of corn, 119 gallons of water to produce a pound of potatoes, and 132 gallons of water to produce a pound of wheat, but it takes 1,800 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. That’s a huge difference.
Confused as to how this adds up? Well, cows, like us, need to eat too—except the amount of food a cow eats is much more than one of our meals. So, while we might consume a few ounces of vegetables and fruit for a salad, cows can eat up to seventy pounds of forage per day. Which takes up that much more water. But by eating one less pound of meat per month, you’re saving over 21,000 gallons of water—almost as much as if you took three-minute showers every day.
And another bonus for cutting back on meat? Losing those extra pounds. In one American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study, people who ate the most red and processed meat and poultry gained the most weight over five years as opposed to those who stuck to a more plant-based diet. This means that you could be helping out the planet while helping out yourself at the same time. It’s a win-win situation. Looking better in a better world—that’s what I’m excited for.
xoxo
Have you ever tried going vegetarian or vegan? How about for just one day? (it’s not as hard as you think!) Leave a comment below, email me (at melanieshimano@jhu.edu), or give me a shout-out on twitter telling me what you think about eating one less pound of meat per month!
And don’t forget to send in your submissions to the Earth Lovers Three-Minute Shower Challenge Youtube Contest! Need some inspiration? Check out my video here.