Limiting red meat consumption in favour of a plant-based diet not only benefits your body, but also the environment: as covered by CBC, and according to a report by EAT, a Stockholm-based non-profit seeking to improve the food system. The report comes from a panel of nutrition, agriculture and environmental experts who recommend a plant-based diet based on studies revealing a link between red meat consumption and health problems. Further, red meat takes up land and feed for cattle, which emit methane into the atmosphere.
The recommended diet encourages consumption of whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables, limiting sugars, refined grains and starches. Red meat should be consumed sparingly, or better yet, replaced with plants, which have among the smallest carbon footprints.
A great protein-packed alternative to meat is none-other than the powerful peanut! According to the National Peanut Board, peanuts are nature’s “zero waste” plant, meaning from the roots to the hulls, no part of the plant goes to waste. Also, compared to other nuts, peanuts have the smallest carbon footprint and the most protein.