Americans' Thanksgiving dinners are said to be harming the planet.
Meat, the main event of holiday celebratory meals in Turkey, and more broadly around the world, is fueling the climate crisis. According to experts who spoke to Bloomberg.
Emma Garnett, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford who studies behavior change and sustainable eating, told Bloomberg that in fact we are eating too much meat.
People are eating more meat than dietary guidelines recommend, especially in developed countries like the U.S., Bloomberg reports, adding that science overwhelmingly shows that eating too much meat isn't just a problem. pointed out the data. Not only bad for your health but also for the planet.
“The responsibility of the food system is to One third of global greenhouse gas emissionsThat's a huge amount,” said Stacey Blondin, a behavioral science researcher at the World Resources Institute, adding that the production, transportation, and consumption of foods of animal origin are the main sources of food-related emissions. .
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Citing a study published in nature climate change In August, Bloomberg said: Massive dietary changes “Switching from a meat-based diet to a plant-based diet has the potential to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions,'' he argues, if the entire world adopted a predominantly plant-based diet. Current global annual dietary emissions levels are: It will decrease by about 17%. compared to 2019 levels.
plant-based meat (Getty Images)
“But getting people to change what they eat isn't easy. Food carries a lot of emotion and personal identity,” Bloomberg reports. “There can also be prejudice against people who eat less meat and misinformation about plant-based diets. false claims They can't provide enough protein or soy can. feminize a man. ”
Bloomberg offered suggestions based on “research and experimentation” to find the best way to transition people from a meat-based diet to a plant-based diet.
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Suggestions included a “nudge towards greener food” by increasing the visibility and marketing of plant-based meals on shelves, tables and menus.
For example, some restaurants are tweaking their menus so that plant-based options come first or are highlighted as “chef's specials” or “dish of the day,” or They offer discounts and promotions on meals and use more fancy words to describe their plants. Tableware.
Another suggestion is to have a “meat-free day” or even a meat-free month like Veganuary, where you remove meat from your diet for the month of January.
IKEA plant-based meatballs (IKEA)
Bloomberg writes, “Veganuary's success may be due to the positive social pressure created by the knowledge that thousands of other people are also cutting back on meat and dairy that month.” . “Still, there are some limitations. Trying to convince people to go vegan solely for environmental reasons can backfire or come across as too preachy.”
Bloomberg also suggests that people “just eat less,” with some cafeterias, restaurants, and markets using mixing techniques to mix ground meat and vegetables together to make meatballs and burgers. Therefore, some people may already be doing this without realizing it.
Finally, Bloomberg, citing the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative, suggested that plant-forward foods should be “at least as tasty as meat-based options.” crowd sourcing The group's co-director Sophie Egan said “culinary techniques, menu concepts and recipes” were collected from chefs at various institutions to improve the flavor of plant-based foods. Culinary Institute of America also offers a 19-course Plant-Forward Kitchen training and certification program for food service staff.
“If the food doesn't taste good, no matter how much you discount it, advertise it, put it in people's faces, people aren't going to want to eat it,” Blondin told Bloomberg.
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