It is also important to remember that not all vegetables are as virtuous. If food is assessed in emissions per calorie or per gram of protein, many commonly eaten fruits, salads and vegetables do not fare much better than beef or pork. Celery is terrible in terms of CO2 per calorie, as is lettuce, tomato and broccoli, largely because these plants require lots of CO2-generating inputs (fertiliser, farm machinery etc) to make them grow, but the resulting crop is largely composed of water and dietary fibre, and so extremely low in calories. Yet unlike meat, these commonly eaten foods get little criticism, largely because everyone understands that we dont eat them for calories or protein. We eat vegetables, fruits and salads because they are delicious, form an important part of our cuisine and contain vital nutrients.

Perhaps we would be better off viewing meat in a similar way. Seeing it as a vital source of nutrients. Considering it a delicious adjunct to meals, rather than the centre of every plate. Eating better meat, eating it less often, and valuing it far more. That way, we could still eat well, but with less impact upon the world. As with so many environmental decisions, we should really try and do this now when we can, rather than tomorrow because we have to.

Chicken or beef?

Is chicken better than beef? It is more efficient at converting feed into meat and has far lower carbon emissions per gram, but chickens are largely fed on human-edible food such as grain, whereas cows can convert grass into protein. Swapping some beef for chicken is probably wise, but unfortunately its complicated.

Loose vs plastic-wrapped produce?

It depends. Excess plastic packaging is certainly to be avoided, but in some cases plastic can help reduce food waste. Plastic wrapping on cucumbers and broccoli has been shown to reduce the environmental impact by extending shelf life.

Palm oil or animal fat?

Although palm oil production drives a lot of tropical deforestation, it is a very efficient, productive crop. Completely banning it may not be the best option as some of the replacements, including beef fat, might have a greater environmental impact. Instead, look for RSPO-certified palm oil that doesnt result in deforestation.

Chicken or organic chicken?

Organic food is often sold as a more sustainable option, but organic chicken requires three times the land of conventional production.

LEAF produce or regular produce?

The LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) standard is a mark of good environmental management on farms. Forty per cent of vegetables sold in the UK are LEAF-marked. Seeking out LEAF produce is a simple way of ensuring it is produced in a more sustainable way

Almond milk or oat milk?

Although almond milk production has low climate emissions and is efficient regarding land use, it uses large amounts of water, often in regions where supplies are limited. Oats are a better option as they can be grown in regions with high rainfall.

No-till or conventional?

No-till agriculture is one of the most promising farming practices in environmental terms, with many crops now being produced without any ploughing. Ploughing is known to cause soil degradation and releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is currently hard to identify food grown in this way, although some progressive farms sell produce directly.

Local or imports?

Although locally grown produce has lower transport emissions, the cost of growing things in unsuitable climates can exceed the benefit. Hot-house-grown tomatoes often have several times the climate impact of imported varieties.

Air freight or road freight?

Although the transport of food is generally a low proportion of its climate impact, air-freighted fruits and vegetables are an exception. These are best avoided or minimised.

Plastic or glass?

Although glass bottles and jars are often chosen on environmental grounds, they can have a greater impact than plastic over a full life cycle. Heavy-duty reusable plastics, or easily recycled lightweight versions, are often better options.

Cheese or meat?

Many people going vegetarian will swap meat for cheese, but there is evidence that cheese has a greater climate impact than chicken or pork (although less than beef or lamb). A note: most studies look at climate impact per gram. While eating 150g of chicken is not usual, that much cheddar would be fairly extreme.

Slow-grown chickens or standard?

Slow-grown chickens are highly prized, but the difference is often only a matter of 10-12 days. Slowly raised animals have a larger climate impact, although if choosing them means you eat less and value it more, it might still be a good choice.

Continued here:

Do we need to stop eating meat? - Telegraph.co.uk