Eat more plant-based
(at least before 6 pm!)
Relax. This post is NOT about going vegetarian or vegan. But it IS about the way many people eat.
Reflect for a moment on the last part of some popular advice from writer Michael Pollan:
Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Not only plants; mostly plants. Maybe this could even be stretched to more plants? Would we consider enjoying a plant-based meal in place of a meat entrée occasionally? And what’s the point?
Well, Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming ranks “plant-rich diet” # 4 on its list of most impactful steps to attack climate change. Estimates cited in the book and elsewhere suggest that raising livestock accounts for 15% or more of annual greenhouse gas emissions. The Drawdown authors further note that “If cattle were their own nation, they would be the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.”* Yikes!
Obviously, the efforts of the Union family alone won’t measurably reduce greenhouse gases or global warming. So why make the effort? Because, as Pollan says, it will begin “to heal the split between what you think and what you do….”** It’s acting with hope and purpose.
And it can be delicious. Here’s a recipe from Mark Bittman’s book VB6 (vegan before 6 PM) to consider.
This might also be a great time to add some plant-based meals to the weekly menu if meat availability or prices become an issue. Whatever your motivation, let us know if you decide to try a plant-based meal for lunch or dinner!
* Drawdown, page 39
** Drawdown, page 53