Give Plants a Chance

Plant-based Diet Challenge

So what exactly is a plant-based diet? Plant-based eating patterns focus on foods primarily from plants, including not only fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes, and beans. It’s important to take note that it isn’t necessarily the same as being vegan or vegetarian though. So undoubtedly, this is good for your wellbeing. However, as an added bonus, changing our eating ways in this manner can positively impact our environments. First of all, it reduces the impacts of climate change. Researchers found that food production is responsible for up to 30 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Of this, animal products account for the vast majority of these effects. Second, by varying our diet, we would be saving water. Agriculture accounts for about 70 percent of freshwater use. A study estimated that our food production would require 37 percent less water if the U.S. cut animal product consumption even by just half. In addition, it minimizes agricultural land use. A report found that agriculture occupies 40 percent of Earth’s ice-free landmass, which poses a great environmental barrier for many species. Taking all this into account, this campaign represents a step in the right direction by giving you all a challenge.

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STEPS

1. Organize! Get together with your group and decide on these things:

- How long will you keep this challenge up? (try at least 1-2 weeks)

- How will you record your day to day feelings/struggle of keeping a plant-based diet? Some ideas:

• Create a group chat in which you all send a message about how the meals worked for you each day.

• Create a notes document and share with all members and type how the meals worked for you each day.

• Create a google doc/spreadsheet and type how the meals worked for you each day.

- Decide if you all will be having the same meal plans, as this can help motivate you or give you meal ideas.

2. Inform yourselves! Before you proceed, make sure you are aware of the foods you should be eating and ones you should be avoiding. If compensations need to be made for certain members of your group, do so (ex. allergies).

3. Be honest! Record the days that you couldn’t keep with the challenge and be honest with yourself! This way, you know there is room for improvement, and plus it shows people that it isn’t an immediate, easy transition.

4. Publicize! Talk about the experiences with your family members and friends. Once you are done with the challenge, post about it on your social media accounts if possible and motivate others to make this change too!

5. Validate Hours! The hours for this depends on the meal planning and on the post (if you make one). You can plan meals as a club or individually, as long as you record the amount of hours you dedicate. Around 1 hour can be rewarded for the post itself.

6. Fill out the Volunteer Form! Get volunteer hours based on the pictures submitted.

Campaign by: Pradnya Balamurugan