An Exploration into Vegetarianism
With rising awareness about the devastating impacts of climate change– and the primary drivers of it, there is a call to action for people to mitigate their own individual impacts growing in tandem. The internet is decked with sustainably-produced products, greenwashed companies, and people making all kinds of environmental pledges. And while this trend is generally indicative of progress in the right direction, there are many popular practices that are massive contributors to the climate, yet aren’t met with the same fervent criticism.
American Culture
A keystone of American culture, prime ingredient of countless cuisines, and a common advertisement on television channels, animal meat is as prevalent in our culture, both within and outside of the realm of food, as it was in cavemen times.
From burgers to filet mignon and shrimp appetizers, meat is a cornerstone in most North American diets, with 73-64 percent of us consuming red or processed meat at least once a day, according to the National Institute of Health. Specifically, the USDA reports that the average American consumes 225 pounds of meat annually. And while meat contains protein and certain nutrients, overly processed meats, which are the standard in the US, contain more salt and saturated fat than any quality nutrients. It is particularly concerning within the context that only 1 in 10 Americans meet the consume the recommended amount of produce according to the CDC.
The Environment
But independent of the dietary uncertainties of meat, the environmental repercussions are astronomical. Agriculture itself produces plenty of greenhouse gasses– but the emissions vary a lot by the product, with meat always being the highest according to the United Nations.
And while plant-based proteins and alternatives certainly have an impact on our atmosphere, it pales in comparison to the impact of large-scale meat production. Additionally, given the context of fast food chains that further the permeation of meat in our daily lives, they have a magnifying detrimental effect as these chains are not known to have particularly sustainable practices.
So, with terror on meat, what should people eat? Sustainability doesn’t start exclusively with just a small fraction of people fully committed to leading greener lives. It starts with everyone trying to live in a little bit more of an environmentally conscious manner– whether that’s opting to drive past the waft of in-n-out burgers, try a salad, or skip on the BLT.
Cutting meat entirely out of your diet isn’t for everyone– it has varying levels of difficulty for everyone depending on their dietary needs, restrictions, preferences and lifestyles. But, much like other forms of sustainability, everyone has the ability to participate in their own way. Becoming a full-fledged vegetarian, vegan, or pescatarian is a big step for a lot of people. But cutting down meat intake, experimenting with meat substitutes, or even trying to supplement your diet with more vegetables or fresh produce, are things anyone can try.
My Personal Experience
In a way I have a skewed narrative of going meatless, considering I went vegetarian when I was 8. At a cognitively fundamental point in my life, my brain stopped registering meat as a food, and thus, my eyes have spent over half of my life skimming past the meat options on every restaurant menu or grocery store aisle.
Then again, I know, with full confidence, that it is 100 percent possible to not eat meat. I’ve done it– for 9 years. And while my individual actions may not single-handedly reverse climate change, they are a pledge I am continually making towards a better, greener future that I believe in.
Grace Gehrman, 17, Redwood High school, Larkspur, Calif.
To learn more about what young people are saying about helping to protect the earth by reducing greenhouse gases, click here.
Works cited:
Frank, Sarah et al. “Patterns of Red and Processed Meat Consumption across North America: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Comparison of Dietary Recalls from Canada, Mexico, and the United States.” National Library of Health, (Jan. 2021), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7796493/
Hussain, Grace. “Meat Consumption In the U.S., Is It Increasing or Decreasing?” Sentient Health, (Dec. 2023) https://sentientmedia.org/meat-consumption-in-the-us/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20USDA%2C%20the,second%2Dhighest%20year%20on%20record