It’s fitting that I’m mentioning peas in my blog this month. One of the goals for Make Our Kids Healthy is to reduce our carbon footprint and build a greener future. There is a clear link between adapting to a plant-based diet (more peas!) and also reducing food waste. A recent landmark report released by The Lancet medical journal and nonprofit EAT sheds even more light on how eating more plants (yay peas!) can make a positive impact.
I don’t think I need to keep mentioning peas to get your attention with this next data point. According to the report, around the globe almost 1 billion people are hungry, and almost 2 billion people are eating too much of the wrong food. There is something seriously faulty within our food systems and also within our current beliefs and practices around our diet. Numbers like that can be overwhelming, but knowing that we can even make a small impact within our own families gives me some hope.
According to the report, food production is the largest cause of global environmental change. Food production is responsible for up to 30% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, and 70% of freshwater use. The need for dietary shift is obvious, specifically moving toward a plant-based diet. The report even gave specifics to support this - positive environmental impact can be made by reducing red-meat consumption by at least 50%, and increasing consumption more than 100% is needed for legumes, nuts, fruit, and vegetables. And peas, more peas.
The changes needed vary by region, but the message across the board is the same - moving to a more plant based diet will have a positive environmental impact.
We all have an important role in this effort - whether it’s making a small change within your family, helping to increase public knowledge of diets from sustainable food systems, or contributing to social movements to shift diets or reduce food waste. If you want to be part of the movement, follow Make Our Kids Healthy on Instagram and Facebook. Share our pages with your community, your friends, and your family. We’ll be sharing regular updates on how you can get involved and learn more about embracing a plant-based diet with your children, and eat more peas, of course.
Eat your peas,
Meagan
