By Eva Hu
Before the coronavirus pandemic started, the typical American diet was deficient in several vitamins and minerals and high in simple carbohydrates and trans-unsaturated or saturated fats from the over consumption of processed foods and meats. According to a 2018 study published by JAMA, the primary cause of poor health is an unhealthy diet, and rates of deaths related to heart diseases and obesity linked cancers found among the younger generation are steadily rising. However since the pandemic has struck, many people have opted to cook homemade meals more frequently rather than order takeout.
In April, HUNTER, a food and beverage communication agency, surveyed 1,000 Americans. About half said that they’ve started to cook and bake more than they did before the quarantine was enacted, and about 38% have started to order less takeout. However, simply eating a home cooked meal does not make it healthy, unless it is prepared with healthy ingredients. It is evident to many that implementing more vegetables and fruits into your diet can be beneficial to your health, as it lowers the risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. But did you know, filling your plate with plant foods rather than animal products can also help the environment?
Globally, the production of meat accounts for more greenhouse gas than the carbon emissions of all the transportations in the world added together, and is directly responsible for 85% of all soil erosions in the United States. It is obvious that consuming meat is probably one of the most inefficient ways humans intake nutrients and calories, and this is only backed up by more data. According to PETA, up to 87% of agricultural land is used to raise animals for food for the production of meat, and for every one pound of steak, cows must consume up to 16 pounds of vegetation. While it takes only 25 gallons of water to produce a pound of wheat, it takes a whopping 2,500 gallons of water to produce the same amount of meat. Trees are also cut down to build animal-sheds, and improper disposal of animal waste can also pollute rivers and streams. Simply decreasing the consumption of meat can free up large quantities of grains, since nearly 80% of the corn and 95% of the oats we grow are fed to livestocks.
To help make a difference for the planet and reap the benefits of vegetables, you don’t need to need to eliminate meat completely from your diet. A flexitarian diet is one that is filled with vegetables, fruits, and plant-based proteins, with moderate amounts of poultry, fish, and other animal products. A flexitarian diet is also easy to maintain, because as the name indicates, it is flexible. You can decide up to how many meals you want to make meatless. However, you should also keep in mind that if you do choose to eliminate meat, you swap them for plant-based protein alternatives such as legumes and beans. By choosing to consume less meat, you’re not only reducing carbon emissions, but also providing your body the nutrients it needs to survive.
To start off, below are some simple healthy meatless recipes you can make during quarantine!
Overnight Oats (extremely easy to make and are absolutely deliciously)
Ratatouille (tastes as good as the movie, though it may be a bit time consuming)
Vegetarian Chili (perfect for a tv-dinner)
Asian Broiled Tofu (delicious with a serving of brown rice)
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