Sometimes it is just easier to put our heads in the sand.
There are so many things to care about and only so many hours in the day. So we continue to live our lives with a little bit of improvement (second hand clothing, reusable shopping bags). We want the best for our children, but there is laundry to be done and lunches to be made.
How can we make a difference?
It is this mentality that makes it feel like we have to do everything in order to do something. And yet, climate activities Suzy Amis Cameron says it doesn’t have to be so complicated. (1)
“If you eat a single plant-based meal each day as one of your three meals, you will be saving tens of thousands of gallons of water every year and drastically reducing your carbon output.”
While she herself eats a wholly plant-based diet, she realized that when she stood on her soapbox, people ran in the other direction.
We want to be encouraged, rather than lectured. This is even after 11,000 scientists in 153 countries have officially declared a “climate emergency.” (2) Six key objectives were outlined in this letter, including replacing fossil fuels; cutting pollutants like methane and soot; restoring and protecting ecosystems; eating less meat; converting the economy to one that is carbon-free and stabilising population growth.
As individuals, what is the easiest change to implement? One plant-based meal every single day. Here are some examples for how to make it super easy, broken down. If we all did this one thing, we would indeed be making a difference.
Breakfast:
• Shakes and smoothies. Nix the dairy yogurt and milk and replace it with their plant-based alternatives. This is also an excellent way to ensure that you are getting more fruits and veggies in your diet. Bonus? This is a super easy “to go” option.
• Plant-based pancakes. The Internet is teeming with recipes, but even if you want to cheat, there are many mixes that only require water or milk. Use a plant-based milk and you are good to go.
• Dairy free yogurt/granola and fruit. Where plant-based yogurts used to be niche, now they can be found in traditional supermarkets. Grab a few for an easy weekday breakfast.
Lunch/Dinner:
• Avocado toast. Not just for breakfast – hearty and satisfying and perfect for those days when you have no time.
• Plant-based burger. When McDonalds is getting in on the Beyond Burger action, you can no longer argue that vegan isn’t convenient. (If getting the burger at a fast food restaurant, make sure to request no cheese/no mayo)
• Loaded salad. Before you think, duh, salad, also consider making yours anything but boring. Fill it to the brim with plant-based protein (chickpeas, tempeh), add vegan cheese, croutons and a pile of dressing. You certainly won’t commit to a new way of eating if it feels like deprivation.
• Bowls. Rice or noodles, peanut or tomato sauce – this is one of those “grab what is in your fridge and pile it into a bowl” kind of meals.
Suzy says, “We have only about ten more years to avert disaster. My husband and I believe that the more people we can inspire to eat a plant-based diet, the more we can move the needle on the climate crisis, though we all have to do other things as well.”
Time to start?