February- Moving To A Plant Rich Diet
”Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed and it. And it was so.”
Genesis 1: 11
February’s ACTION is MOVING TO A PLANT RICH DIET . Commit to one Action each week this month. Contact zerowastechurch@gmail.com for more information.
Let’s ACT together this year to restore the fullness of God’s earth.
How we eat is a reflection of our moral and religious sensibilities. Cows produce the harmful greenhouse gas methane, and the food we feed them could be feeding hungry humans. Using sustainable agriculture methods to grow our fruits and vegetables can actually help increase the carbon and nutrients in the soil, and pull excess carbon out of the atmosphere. Moving toward a plant rich diet would not only be good for the planet, it will be good as well for our (human) health. People who eat a plant rich/low meat diet reduce their risks of certain cancers, heart disease and stroke and have lower morbidity and healthcare costs. With all the benefits plants offer us why not give it a try?
For more information on plant rich diets, see below!
Are you a Church leader looking to initiate this program as part of a zero waste campaign? We will have PDF posters from each of our Monthly Actions, that can be downloaded from our “For Leaders” Resource Page.
Week 1
- Try a vegetable you haven’t tried before.
- Try a new plant-based recipe.
Week 2
- Visit a vegan restaurant for inspiration.
- Replace meat with seasoned beans, legumes or lentils in a recipe 1 day a week.
Week 3
- Eat meat only once a week, then once a month.
- Switch from cow’s milk to a plant-based alternative like coconut, soy, or almond milk.
Week 4
- Join a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to receive fresh, seasonal vegetables.
- Transition smoothly from 4 legs, to 2 legs to 0 legs!
Bonus action: talk to your doctor or nutritionist about a plant rich diet!
This is part of our RESTORING GOD’S EARTH, A YEAR OF PERSONAL ACTION program; A monthly guide to help individuals learn the many ways they can help care for God’s creation.
Resources:
Web resources:
Graham Hill Ted Talk: Weekday Vegetarian. https://www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_weekday_vegetarian
Food’s Carbon Footprint, http://www.greeneatz.com/foods-carbon-footprint.html
Healthy Eating, http://www.greeneatz.com/healthy-eating.html
Cook for Good, Save money, Eat well, Make a difference, http://cookforgood.com/
Forks over Knives: https://www.forksoverknives.com
Minimalist Baker: https://minimalistbaker.com/
Chef Chloe Vegan Chef: http://chefchloe.com/
Isa Chandra Vegan Chef: http://www.isachandra.com/recipes/
Articles:
A survey of registered dietitians’ concern and actions regarding climate change in the United States. Hawkins, Irana, et al, Frontiers in Nutrition, 2, 1 (2015)
Analysis and valuation of the health and climate change co-benefits of dietary change. Springmann, Marco, et al, www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1523119113
Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Health Co-Benefits: A Structured Review of Lifestyle-Related Climate Change Mitigation Strategies. Quam, Vivian G M, et al, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 14, 468 (2017)
A Low-Fat Vegan Diet Improves Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a Randomized Clinical Trial in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes. Barnard, Neal, et al. Diabetes Care 29:1777–1783, (2006)
Nutritional Update for Physicians: Plant-Based Diets. Tuso, Philip J, et al,The Permanente Journal, 17, 61 (2013)
Books:
Hawken, P. (2017). Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming. Penguin Books.