It is important to develop a ‘meat consciousness’ & shift to a more plant-based diet. This will help combat climate change, soil, air & water pollution, ocean dead zones & the many other problems caused by the industrial production of livestock. Humans currently consume the natural resources of 1.6 Earths to meet our demands. This is clearly not sustainable & environmental pressures are expected to increase substantially due to population growth. By eating fewer meals with meat or dairy each week, we can have a huge impact on our health & the health of the planet. You will also be helping to fight world hunger, as more than 1/2 of the world’s crops are used to feed farmed animals, not people.

Food production & consumption has significant impacts on the environment & human health; these include the depletion & contamination of natural resources & serious diseases. Shockingly animal agriculture (the raising of cows, pigs & chickens) is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gases, more than the combined exhaust from all transport worldwide. Millions of square kilometres of forests have been cut down to make way for grazing pastures for cattle, to meet the rising demand for meat & dairy produce, resulting in the destruction of ‘carbon sinks’ & the release of billions of tonnes of CO

2

into the atmosphere. Rainforest destruction also results in land degradation, loss of valuable habitat & a reduction in species diversity.

Diets high in meat , part icular ly red & processed meat ,

increase the r isk of obesi ty, cancer , heart disease, &

premature death & are a huge strain on natural resources.

Eat less Meat: Help your Planet

Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon destruction.

It is easy to commit to eating a little less meat, try tying it to another goal & get excited, start small, phase the meat out, plan meals, track your progress & celebrate!

Did you Know?

2,500 gallons of water are needed to

produce just 1 pound of beef!

Animal agriculture is responsible for more water pollution than all other

industrial sources combined.

1,000 gallons of water is required to

produce just 1 gallon of milk!

Livestock covers 45% of the earth’s

total land surface.

We are experiencing the largest mass

extinction in 65 million years.

70% of deaths & morbidity are largely

lifestyle related & preventable.

Going meatless just once a week can help reduce our carbon footprint & save precious resources like fossil fuels, fresh water, fish stocks & rainforests. It could also save you money, not to mention the lives of billions of animals!

Easy Ways To Eat Less Meat

1. Veganise a few of your favourite recipes & find meat alternatives. 2. Bulk up your meat dishes with more beans, grains or vegetables. 3. Order your favourite pizza without meat or enjoy a veggie burger. 4. Replace ground beef with lentils or minced mushrooms. 5. Explore cuisines from countries with well-know vegetarian dishes

such as Indian & Mexican recipes. 6. Use meat sparingly, and as an extra flavor, such as bacon pieces

on a veggie pie. Check out these sites for some inspiring ideas:

www.101cookbooks.com/vegetarian_recipes/

www.vegweb.com

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/category/vegetarian

www.ohmyveggies.com/