Verified truth #1: the 80/20 rule that plays against us

It's concerning to see that there's so much information on how our food choices are effecting our environment yet so few people actually act on it.

The statistic I want to talk about today is about the reverse protein factory created with animal farming. The world is made of 29.2% of land (continents and islands). Of that land, 1/3 is covered in trees, 1/3 is used for agriculture, 1/10 is covered with permanent snow and glaciers, and the remainder is desert, savannah, and prairies. Animal agriculture takes nearly 80% of global agricultural land, yet produces less than 20% of the world's supply of calories. That is a 80/20 rule that really doesn't work in our favour. Interestingly, 83% of the world's supply of calories and 63% of protein actually comes from plants.

These stats tell me one thing: humanity is almost already plant-based.

Unfortunately, its love for meat is using most of the agricultural lands that could be used to simply feed humans directly instead of going through the animals with this reverse factory system that reduce the amount of protein by feeding the livestock all the beautiful plant protein and exporting that into meat protein in a lesser amount.

Global demand for meat is growing: over the past 50 years, meat production had more that tripled. The recent data shows that 80 billion animals are slaughtered each year for meat. That's 69 billion chickens, 1.5 billion pigs, 656 million turkeys, 574 million sheep, 479 million goats, and 392 million cattle killed for meat production.

That's a lot of data and information. But we don't need to review all the stats to quickly realize that this doesn't make sense. It's not rational to use so much land for so few calories and protein. It's not logical to increase meat production and with that effect increase the agricultural land use for such a small input. The world doesn't only consist of chicken, pigs, turkeys, sheep, goats and cattle. Yet that's what our world is mostly made of as industries are just artificially producing them for humans consumption.

The process of transforming tree land into more agricultural land is so damaging to the environment. In fact, land conversion from natural ecosystems to agriculture has historically been the largest cause of greenhouse gas emissions. It is more important than ever to have a better way to effectively use land, both for hosting humanity and to feed everyone. I'm a numbers girl, and these verified numbers are so simple to understand: we need a solution to maximize crop productivity while minimizing the potential environmental impact due to excessive loss of habitats and overuse of natural resources such as soils and water. Knowing that so few calories come from animal agriculture and such a large number comes from plant based food, the answer seems too simple to be true, yet it is: we must increase plant consumption and decrease meat consumption. That's simply the logical way to go with our food to be in better balance with our environment and our protein and caloric needs.

Changing lifestyle is not easy, but definitely feasible. Animal products consumption has increased drastically from what it used to be, by working together we can certainly bring it back down. It requires will and creativity. And that's where I'm here to help!

Contact me if you want assistance to help change your lifestyle. I've done it with my family, we were big meat and dairy consumers and now my beautiful family of five is completely plant-based. I've studied nutrition and cheffing and I'm here to make the transition easier. You can certainly also go at it by yourself. There are so many talented cooks sharing their beautiful plant-based recipes which you can follow and support. Trying new things every week is an excellent way to get started in widening your knowledge in plant-based cuisine and experience delicious flavours with plants!

Transitioning to a plant-based diet can be a great way to improve your health and reduce your environmental impact. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Start simple: Begin by replacing one meal per day with a plant-based meal. This could be as simple as a veggie stir-fry or a salad. Gradually increase the number of plant-based meals you consume each day.

2. Experiment with new foods: There are many delicious plant-based foods that you may not have tried before. Explore your local farmer's market or grocery store and try new fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.

3. Plan your meals: Meal planning can help ensure that you have the ingredients you need on hand to make healthy, plant-based meals. Consider planning your meals for the week ahead of time.

4. Learn new recipes: There are many websites and cookbooks dedicated to plant-based eating. Experiment with new recipes to find new favorite meals.

5. Focus on nutrient density: Ensure that you are consuming a variety of nutrient-dense foods to meet your nutritional needs. Include sources of protein, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals in your diet.

Remember that transitioning to a plant-based diet is a journey. Be patient with yourself. And remember that you're not alone.