The Surprising Way to Lower Your Carbon Footprint Starts in the Kitchen

How To Lower Your Carbon Footprint by What You Eat

This fall my family and I decided to take a big leap in our diet - we're going mostly meatless!

It's an idea I've been toying with for a while for a number of reasons. We belong to a religion where for about half the year as long as I can remember, meat and dairy were not a part of our diet. And I've dabbled with veganism and vegetarianism at various times in my pre-kid and pre-husband life. That said, meat has always been a part of our family culture, so I was surprised by how hard it felt to make a commitment to reducing it in our diet. Christmas, Easter, and most major holidays call for meat as a main dish in our household, as do celebratory meals for graduations and birthdays. The lady who tells the vegetarian fiance in my big fat Greek wedding, "that's ok! I make lamb!"? Yep, that's us.

Why Should You Reduce or Eliminate Animal Products From Your Diet?

But there are lots of great reasons to reduce or eliminate animal products from your diet. Cow products have one of the highest carbon footprints thanks to the amount of greenhouse gasses they produce, and lamb, chicken, cheese and dairy products are unfortunately not that far behind. Reducing these products from your diet can also be incredibly beneficial to overall physical health - eating plant-based has well-studied benefits on weight, heart health and cholesterol levels.

For the longest time I struggled with an all-or-nothing mentality - if I couldn't completely eliminate meat, what was the point? But this flawed kind of thinking really hinders opportunities for growth and improvement. So this month, we’remaking the jump- we’ll make one meat dish and one fish dish per week, and the remainder of our meals will be plant-based. Here’s what to know if you’re considering a similar change.

Research Your Diet Replacements

Meat can be a great source of protein and iron, but it’s certainly not the only way to eat a balanced diet. Beans, nuts, tofu, seitan, and even quinoa can be great sources of protein, and many of the same foods are great sources of iron too. Women planning to become pregnant and individuals with underlying health conditions should speak with their doctor about if additional supplements are needed before starting a vegetarian diet.

Have Fun On Your Plant-Based Journey

One of the first things I did before diving into meal planning as a plant-based family was stroll through our library’s cookbook section. I found a great red lentil recipe in Milk Street’s Cook What You Have, and my 3 year old has been asking for the tofu and broccoli bowl from Jenny Rosenstrach’s Weekday Vegetarians for a few weeks now! We all really enjoy this vegan pesto almost every week when our basil is doing well. Also, while processed vegetarian meats such as impossible burgers, plant-based cheeses and chick’n nuggets don’t have the same health benefits of unprocessed foods, they can be a lifesaver on busy weeknights!

It’s Okay To Start Small

Many American families see meat as an integral part of their diet, so eliminating all animal products can feel like a major change. And being responsible for meal planning for an entire family can certainly feel like additional pressure! It’s important to remember that small changes are also ok- maybe eliminating certain products, swapping cow’s milk for oat milk, or changing out one meat-based dish a week is a more realistic place to start. Even small changes make a difference.

Wish us luck! Have you made a similar change in diet for your health or the planet? What helped your family make the transition as smooth as possible?

A few posts that may help you on your Plant-Based food journey…

11 Vegan Food Bloggers to Follow

13 Alternative Meat Brands

8 Plant-Based Milks

Medical Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.