Plant-based eating is on the rise. People are becoming more aware of the health benefits that come with eating a plant-based diet, as well as the environmental and ethical implications of meat consumption. But do plant-based food options belong on the school menu? A California high schooler says absolutely.
Nutrition Benefits of Plant-Based Eating
The main benefit of plant-based eating is its nutritional content. A diet full of fruits and vegetables provides ample amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber – all essential components for a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, research has shown that vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with decreased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. This is likely because many plant-based foods are low in saturated fat and cholesterol while also being naturally free from trans fats.
Plant-Based Foods Have Variety
In addition to being nutritionally beneficial, plant-based diets can be incredibly varied! Fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, dairy alternatives like soy milk or almond milk – the list goes on! Many people find that when they switch to a plant-based diet they discover new flavors and ingredients they had never even heard of before.
Environmental Impacts Of Plant-Based Diets
Including plant-based dietary options at school isn’t just good for the body; it’s great for the environment too! Studies have found that producing animal products requires significantly more land than producing plants does since animals require feed grown on land as well as space to graze or live in other conditions. Additionally animal agriculture contributes enormously to climate change thanks to emissions from livestock such as methane gas which is 23x more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in our atmosphere. Eating fewer animal products means less strain on our planet’s resources – something we could all use right now!
Read the full article about this high school girl’s mission on our sister site, Irvine Weekly, here.
