As I write this, the U.S. Census Bureau population clock estimates that there are almost 6.8 billion inhabitants of this planet. The Global Footprint Network estimates that, if each of these inhabitants lived the lifestyle of the average American, we would need five planets to supply the amount of resources consumed. As China and India continue to grow, it is obvious that we will need a new paradigm to provide quality lifestyles for all of the people living on planet earth.
The most efficient way to feed all these people is through a plant based diet. In addition to providing more protein per acre than land devoted to raising livestock, growing plants consumes less energy and water, produces fewer greenhouse gases, and contributes to optimum health. “There is no question that the choice to become a vegetarian or lower meat consumption is one of the most positive lifestyle changes a person could make in terms of reducing one’s personal impact on the environment,” says Christopher Flavin of the Worldwatch Institute. “The resource requirements and environmental degradation associated with a meat-based diet are very substantial.” An article in New Scientist magazine declares that “it’s better to green your diet than your car.”
One Planet Diet is devoted to providing resources to understand the impacts of our food choices and tools to make it easy and enjoyable to maintain a diet that maximizes life satisfaction while helping us to minimize the resources we consume – hence a One Planet Diet.
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