Sustainable Tip of the Week

Eat Vegetarian for One Full Day per Week

In 2006 the United Nations stated that the livestock industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation worldwide. Raising animals for food contributes to deforestation, air and water pollution, land degradation, loss of topsoil, loss of biodiversity, climate change, and the overuse of resources including oil and water. Plant based food production is less of an impact and is a more sustainable use of our land. Of course, it is all about finding the optimal balance!

Switching from a strictly carnivorous diet to a vegetarian one is pretty daunting, but SEAC is here to offer some helpful hints! Try eating vegetarian for one full day each week. You'll find it's not so difficult! Here are some yummy options to try:

For the non-vegetarian eater:

Breakfast:

• Cereal & milk (or soy milk/ almond milk), with fruit
  
• Oatmeal with fruit and nuts
• Bagel with cream cheese (or pb & jelly)

Lunch:

• Pasta with any sauce (except meat!)
• Salad with chickpeas & beans
  
• Sandwich wrap with hummus instead of meat

Dinner:

• Pizza
  
• Pesto with cheese and tomato ciabatta sandwich
  
• Baked sweet potato loaded with your favorite toppings
  

For the ambition vegetarian:

Breakfast

• Breakfast burrito with tofu and grilled veggies
• Oatmeal with fruit and nuts
• Yogurt with granola & fruit

Lunch

• Salad with chickpeas
  
• Soup with quinoa and hummus
• Tempeh curry with rice
  

Dinner

• Peanut & ginger tofu pasta
• Tofu stir fry
• Quinoa with balsamic roasted mushrooms

The Fresh Food Company highlights their vegetarian options, making it even easier to pick out these foods! If you like to cook, Whole Foods has great vegetarian recipes! Good luck!!