Some of the other posts about meat got me thinking, what would the world be like if we substantially reduced meat consumption? Would we survive economically? Environmentally? With good health? This article tests the idea on a much smaller scale, producing very interesting results.
An elementary school in the Oakland Unified School District did a two-year experiment where they reduced meat and dairy distribution in the school cafeteria as an environmental test of the "Friends of Earth" advocacy. They increased purchase of vegetables and fruits, and decreased purchased of meats, only buying from companies that humanely treat animals.
The results to the experiment ended up being extremely beneficial. Economically, the school definitely benefited, as they saved $42,000 in food costs; moreover the town benefited economically as well because the school was buying from local farms. Environmentally, the school reduced their carbon footprint. And surprisingly, the majority of the kids were more satisfied with their new meat-free, organic meals than they were with hot dogs and hamburgers.
Not only was it benefiting the environment and the economical status of the school, but it also positively affected the health of the students. By decreasing consumption of processed red meat, the risk of health problems such as heart disease and diabetes were greatly decreased as well. Apparently, Americans eat more meat and not enough plant-based foods than what is needed. I'm not sure how the rest of the world would react to a change like this, but it's good to know that the effects would be positive on multiple levels, and hopefully this source could help anyone who's researching meat consumption or the carbon footprint of the food industry.
http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/when-schools-reduce-meat-and-dairy-consumption-everyone-benefits.html
This was a really great expirement to look up and I hope it shows many people and schools the harm of what processed red meat can do the enviroment and to young kids to teenagers to adults' health. Another good example of people losing weight due to the cutting of red meat out of their life is lent. On friday's you can not eat meat and I know many people who have lost weight from giving up foods for that time period. I also agree with you on the fact that we need to consume more leaf green plants and fruits and vegetables. I believe if we do this then our energy will increase and the chances will increase of more activities and people staying fit.
ReplyDeleteIt would be awesome if we started changes with our schools. Since kids spent most of their time at school, it would be a great learning experience for them to learn about eating more plant-based, healthy, and local foods. Once they are taught this at school, they most likely will ask their parents to do the same at home. It would ultimately benefit everyone (except food manufacturers) and the environment.
ReplyDeleteThis is a cool experiment they tried out, because the meat in school lunches is usually the most processed and unhealthy piece of the meal. Its like eating McDonald's or Taco Bell who use highly processed, factory grown meats. These meats can lead to obesity and other health problems if you consume them a lot. Schools have been striving to provide healthier choices for students, for example at our school it is required that the lunch ladies give you a fruit, salad, or carrots with your meal. If we could implement this experiment throughout schools across the nation, it could lower obesity rates among children and save the government millions of dollars in health care related expenses and school funding expenses.
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