Thinking about going vegan or vegetarian? Whether you are doing it to save the environment or to save the animals, there is a lot to keep in mind. There are some great benefits of cutting animal products out of our diet, such as protesting the inhumane living conditions of farmed animals, or protecting the environment. But some say it’s better for the soil, which might not be fully true. Feedlots do deplete the soil, but when farmed correctly, animals are actually incredibly beneficial to the soil, plus it gives them a much more humane existence.
There is a lot of evidence that cutting animal products out of our collective diet will help decrease the effects of the large animal farming industry. But will switching to only eating humanely raised meat be the best solution? Chris Newman of Sylvanaqua Farms makes the argument that simply switching to small farms with sustainable animal practices isn’t possible. The scaling of these small farms to meet the current demand for meat is just not feasible.
But should the whole world go vegan? That also isn’t a sustainable option, according to some. A lot of the staples of a vegan diet are harmful to the environment and to the people who live where items like soya, avocado, and some “alternative meats” are farmed and produced.
Everybody going vegan might not be the most sustainable option, but neither is continuing with our current diets. Going vegan will definitely help, as long as you are going so mindfully, but if you can’t go full vegan there is still plenty you can do. Try doing one vegan meal a week, or doing all vegetarian except for one meat-based meal a week. There are so many great vegan recipes out there to try! We’ve listed some great places to start below.
Kansas City Vegan Restaurants
Vegan Influencers
Further Reading for Food Justice