Eat a Plant-Based Diet & Save the Environment (and Maybe a Soul)

A simple shift toward more plants can support your health and the planet.

For years nutrition experts have encouraged us to eat more plants, not only to improve personal health but also to reduce environmental impact. A plant-based diet can support heart health, reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve overall wellbeing. It also has a smaller environmental footprint.

Meat and dairy require significantly more land, water and energy to produce than plant-based foods. Beef and lamb have the highest climate footprint per gram of protein, while most plant foods have the lowest. Studies show that shifting even part of your diet toward plant-forward meals can reduce food-related emissions by 20 to 45%. Small changes truly add up.

There are also ethical perspectives to consider. Many spiritual traditions emphasize reducing harm to other beings, and some feel that choosing plant-based meals reflects that principle. Whether or not you take that view, the health and environmental benefits of reducing meat and dairy consumption are well established.

So this Thanksgiving, you might consider serving Tofurky, a popular meat alternative for those who avoid turkey for ethical or personal reasons. Even if you keep your traditional favorites, substituting one plant-based dish is a meaningful step for your health, for the planet and you might just save a soul, if not a turkey itself.