“If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat.   That’s the single most important thing you can do.”   -  Sir Paul McCartney

"It's better for the environment to eat a salad in a Hummer than a cheeseburger in a Prius." - Bill Maher

If you're like me, these quotes may have surprised you just a bit.  When we think of greenhouse gases, we tend to think of SUV’s and electricity from coal and other nonrenewable sources.  We don’t instinctively think about the food we eat.

Of course, we know a diet of local, organic fruits, vegetables, and grains is healthier for our bodies.  But it’s actually healthier for our planet too.

According to Environmental Defense, “If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads.”

Why is animal agriculture such a contributing factor?  It’s more than just carbon dioxide.  Livestock farms are also the leading source of methane and nitrous oxide emissions.  These gases combined with CO2 cause the majority of global warming.

Maybe you're not ready to eliminate meat from your diet entirely.  But it's empowering to know that just limiting your consumption and spreading the word can have an impact on climate change.