Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains not only good for human health, it’s also good for the health of the planet. Project Drawdown's research estimates that, "business-as-usual emissions could be reduced by as much as 70 percent through adopting a vegan diet and 63 percent for a vegetarian diet." According to a study by the Center for Behavior and the Environment, eating a plant-rich diet is among the seven most impactful actions that individuals and households in the United States can take to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. A global shift toward a plant-rich diet is one of the most effective climate change strategies, and one that most individuals can fairly easily, and inexpensively, adopt.
The good news is that diets rich in fruits and vegetables are on the rise in the United States, and elsewhere. The stories in this collection (see below) highlight the diverse communities in which plant-rich diets are being welcomed. In Hawaii, a movement to shift back to to indigenous crops is underway, and Mexican-American chefs are embracing the trend of updating old favorites with a vegan twist. A U.K. soccer team has also embraced an all-vegan menu. From produce prescription programs to growing food hubs, fruits and vegetables are bringing environmental and health benefits to a wider audience. This solution is one of the Drawdown Ecochallenge actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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