Do you ever wonder if individual dietary choices make a difference? New research by Helen Harwatt indicates that just switching out beans for beef in the American diet could bring us close to meeting the Greenhouse Gas reduction goals set for 2020 by President Obama—even without any other policy or lifestyle changes. What’s more, it would free up 42% of the crop land in the United States for other forms of agriculture.

Currently, 33% of arable land is used to grow feed for cattle, who provide far fewer calories per volume than the amount of food (grains and soybeans mainly) that they consume. All while emitting a steady stream of methane, one of the main culprits in global warming.

The good news is that Harwatt’s research indicates that the choices we make as individuals can have an impact. Here are some ideas for how you can participate in creating a new plant-based system for the planet.

Eat a Burger. 

Yes, you read that right. You can have your fields and eat meat too. If you haven’t yet, try the Impossible Burger at Bareburger, one of our restaurant partners. It’s a 100% plant-derived burger that cooks and tastes just like beef!

Bake Some Beans.

Make your own black bean burgers. Or try this recipe for gigantes plaki, a Greek dish made with butter beans—perfect for a family dinner!

Meatless Meals.

We are in the process of putting together some meal plans that can help get kids involved in cooking at home, keep costs low, and make everybody happy. Stay tuned on this blog and sign up for our newsletter to hear more!