Eating More Veggies: For Yourself, and the Environment

(Image Courtesy of Huffington Post)

For many of us, one of the first memories we have with food is from our mothers. If your childhood was anything like mine, "Eat your veggies!" is an all-to-familiar refrain. It turns out, our moms may have been onto something.

According to a recent report produced by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, the livestock sector produces more harmful greenhouse gas emissions than all of the planes, trains, and cars on the planet combined! The reasoning behind this comes from the fact that cows are one of the largest producers of methane gas on the planet. Additionally, meat producers are clearing more and more forested areas out to make room for humanity's demand for meat. Combined, these two factors are what make consuming meat have such a deleterious effect on the environment.

To combat these negative side-effects, we can all do our parts by committing to eat more veggies. Here are a few helpful tips to replace meat in your life:

1. Shop locally. Farmers markets are a great place to find scrumptious veggies that are both grown in season and near your home. You'll feel good about supporting your local economy, too!
2. Be in it for the long-haul. As with any change to your routine, committing to make vegetables a larger part of your diet can be hard at first. Over time, and with enough persistence, you'll find that you'll soon start craving healthy alternatives like apples, broccoli, and others.
3. Seek out vegetarian restaurants. This is a great way to both help yourself really enjoy your new diet, and a way to find out how professional chefs use vegetables to replace meat. Find a tasty dish and try making it a home!
4. Use the internet. The internet is a great resource for recipes, motivational tips, and other nuggets of information that can help you commit to your change. This article is a great place to start.

By following these tips, you'll soon find yourself completely embracing your new vegetable-based lifestyle. You'll feel good about doing your part to curtail the meat industry's harmful effects on the environment, and even feel healthier in the process. So, why wait? Start today!