Experts say the best way to support the environment is to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, because the diets’ foundational foods – fruit, vegetables and grains – have the smallest carbon footprint. Producing animal products, on the other hand, requires lots of chemicals, fuel and water, and also generates waste that leads to pollution. But that doesn’t mean meat-lovers have to suffer. Ryan D. Andrews, a registered dietitian in Norwalk, Connecticut, and author of “A Guide to Plant-Based Eating,” recommends experimenting to find your “minimal effective dose,” meaning the least amount of meat you can eat and still be happy and feel good. “There’s a lot of individuality with animal consumption,” he says.
First, know how different meats stack up. Eating a lamb chop isn’t the same as eating a chicken thigh – from both an environmental and health perspective. Chicken and turkey are the best meat picks for the planet, while beef and lamb are the worst, according to the Environmental Working Group’s “Meat-Eater’s Guide.” Similar guidance could apply to your body. For example, the Mediterranean diet, considered the “Best Diet” by U.S. News experts –recommends fish, poultry and plant-based proteins over red meat consumption, which should be limited to two or three times a month.
Once you know about how much and which types of meats you’re shopping for, if at all possible, try shopping local. Most big cities to small towns now boast a local farmers market, where you can talk to the farmers about where and how their animals were raised. A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), is also a great choice for having fresh, local animal products (and produce) shipped directly to your door. Taking advantage of both options – even if only occasionally – will help limit purchases from concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAPOs, where most Americans get their meat.
If you just don’t have access to farmer’s markets of CSA’s, get really good at reading labels. This isn’t always easy, because a lot of labels are deliberately misleading. Take “free-range” chickens, which can apply to chickens that technically have access to the outdoors, but may never leave their sheds. Among the most trustworthy and meaningful labels to look for: Global Animal Partnership, which notes levels of animal welfare (EWG recommends looking for those marked 3 and above), and Certified Humane, which indicates that animals can’t be confined, among other stipulations.
Finally, become a prudent cook. Using meat in soups and stews is a great choice, since that cooking method doesn’t produce the potentially harmful compounds that come with high-heat cooking. You can also reduce your overall meat consumption by subbing in beans for half the meat. Soups and stews are also great places to use it all, including bones, which can help cut down on environmental waste.
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