Go Vegetarian for the Environment

There are many reasons to go vegetarian.  Here are some effects of meat production and livestock agriculture on the environment- reasons why you should cut meat out of your diet for a greener Earth.

• It uses over 80% of the agricultural land area in the US- over half of the total land area of the country
• It uses hundreds of billions of gallons of water every day for crop irrigation
• It uses more energy than the less developed countries uses for all purposes
• Contributes to deforestation in the US and in the tropical forests of Central and South America, where forests are being cleared at the rate of 25-100 acres a minute
• Produces soil erosion amounting to several billion tons of soil lost every year
• Produces large amounts of CO2, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide, trapping heat in the atmosphere
• Leads to desertification that renders once-fertile land barren
• Causes extinction of indigenous plant and animal species
• Commercial fishing industry has pushed entire oceanic ecosystems to the brink of collapse
• More than one-third of all fossil fuels produced in the US goes to raising animals for food
• Run-off from factory farms pollutes waterways more than all other industrial sources combined
• Massive amounts of excrement emits toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia into the air
• Produces more greenhouse gases than all SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in world combined

Amy’s Pizza

Amy’s is a natural vegetarian company that has been around for twenty years, and is a family owned and operated business.  It started out in 1987, shortly after Rachel and Andy Berliner’s daughter Amy was born.  They got the idea for their company because in 1987 the idea of “organic” food wasn’t yet well known and there were very few frozen meals available for vegetarians to eat.  They wanted to make a line of natural, convenient, vegetarian products.  Their first product was a vegetable pot pie.  Now they offer over 88 different products, from canned soups to frozen meals, all made naturally, and with mostly organic ingredients.

On the website, you can browse for products without specific ingredients, such as corn, soy, dairy, tree nuts, and lactose, or products that are vegan, kosher, low fat, low in sodium, low in cholesterol, and gluten free.  

Amy’s offers a wide variety of pizzas.  Some types are Margherita, Mushroom and Olive, classic Cheese, Rice Crust Spinach, and Soy Cheese for vegans.  They also offer single serve pizzas as a cheaper, smaller size option.

Produce You Should Buy Organic

There are many reasons why you should buy organic.  Not only is organic food better for the environment, it’s better for you.  Pesticides damage soil, water, and wildlife.  And tests show that most non-organic produce contain residual pesticides even after washing.  When you eat non-organic produce, you’re consuming that pesticide residue.  Buying organic also supports small farmers and biodiversity.  Here is a list of the top twelve fruits and vegetables you should buy organically, from most contaminated to least contaminated.  

1. Nectarines
2. Celery
3. Pears
4. Peaches
5. Apples
6. Cherries
7. Strawberries
8. Imported Grapes
9. Spinach
10. Potatoes
11. Bell Pepper
12. Red Raspberries

Here is a list of fruits and vegetables that contain the least amount of pesticides.  Although organic is better, the thick, inedible skins of many of these fruits and vegetables protect the part of the food that you eat. 

1. Asparagus
2. Avocados
3. Bananas
4. Broccoli
5. Cauliflower
6. Corn (However, almost all corn is genetically modified)
7. Kiwi
8. Mangoes
9. Onions
10. Papaya
11. Pineapples
12. Sweet Peas

Method Products

If you want to lessen your impact on the environment through all those toxic chemicals in your cleaning cabinet, you might want to check out some of Method’s products.  All their cleaning formulas, everything from hand soap to candles, are made with biodegradable ingredients from natural sources such as soy, coconut, and palm oils.  They’re also never tested on animals.  The packaging is recyclable, and any emissions from employee commute and travel are offset with carbon credits; the energy used in their manufacturing sites and offices is from renewable energy credits.  The fragrances for their products are derived from things like herbs, flowers, and fruits.  And that sure beats the strong, nauseating smell of bleach.  Plus, the products work.

KFC - Kentucky Fried Cruelty

A video about the cruelties of KFC, hosted by Pamela Anderson.  (GRAPHIC)

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