The Checklist - Ideas to lead a more sustaiainable life.

Al's latest blog entry:

September 15, 2009 Summer Eco Challenge update. The challenge is over for this summer. I accomplished a 50.7% vegetarian diet during the summer. While that may not seem high, my goal was 50% - you must also know that I am/was a carnavore - a day without meat was a day without protein (or so I thoguht). My overall decrease in meat consumption during the summer was very likely greater than 50.7%. What I noticed was that before the challenge, I would often eat meat twice or even three times a day. During the challenge, I would go vegetarian for lunch and often screw up the day with a piece of meat for dinner. The take away point from this is that I can select a vegetarian lunch more often than I had been and significantly decrease my meat intake going forward. The other main take away from the challenge is that my portions were smaller - and I can sustain smaller portions for myself and my family and still get the necessary nutrients and protein from my diet. The real take away for anyone reading this is that if I can do it, so can you. What I suggest is to take a month - 30 days, and track your total meat consumption (by the way, this includes fish). During the month, try to reduce a) the number of meals you eat meat in and b) reduce your portions when you do consume meat. Both of these efforts will have the effect of decreasing greenhouse gasses and reducing your total footprint on the earth.

(Al's other blog entries)