We've been given little ways to reduce our carbon footprint for a long time. But, if you're truly ready to change your lifestyle to prevent climate change, the single best thing you can do is eat less meat. Here's why Meatless Monday is a great place to start.

1. Cows produce methane.

This greenhouse gas keeps much more heat in the atmosphere than does carbon dioxide.

2. Livestock requires a great deal of land clearing.

Huge areas of rainforest are now gone because we had to make room to raise animals for consumption.

3. The production process uses up massive amounts of water.

Such a massive amount, in fact, that it really makes the “shorten your shower” method for environmentalism seem tiny.

4. Meat must be transported around the country in trucks burning gasoline.

We don’t usually buy locally-produced meat, which means that your carbon footprint extends to the gasoline burned for the many miles the meat traveled just to arrive at your plate.

5. Distribution of resources: does it go toward people or toward animals for meat?

How much of our vegetable supplies go toward feeding animals for meat consumption that could have gone to people throughout the world experiencing hunger?

6. Many animals get seriously harmed in the meat production process.

Whether or not you believe in the “meat is murder” argument, there are countless undeniable problems with our throwaway attitude toward animals. Certain processes of industrialized meat production involve animal cruelty. Land clearing destroys habitats and ecosystems. In the case of seafood, other sea animals often get harmed or killed in the fishing process when they are pulled up in the nets with the fish. This all adds up to a pretty disturbing image of our culture.

7. It’s cheaper.

Meat is expensive, y’all. Go vegetarian one day a week just to save some money.

8. It’s healthy.

Especially in the USA, we consume meat far beyond a healthy limit and it leads to many problems down the line. People who consume huge amounts of protein are at a greater risk for cancer, diabetes, and earlier death.

9. It doesn’t require much commitment.

Going vegetarian or even vegan is a huge undertaking: I get it. But skipping meat one day a week is so incredibly doable. This adds up to put a significant dent in the problem.

10. You can try some of the many amazing vegetarian recipes!

I don’t even know where to start. Once you start trying vegetarian foods, a whole new world of cuisine opens up. Happy eating!

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