The average Australian eats 94 kilograms of meat each year. That's a lot. To compare, the average person in Bhutan, India and Japan only eats 3, 5 and 44 kilograms of meat each year. Over a third of our kilojoules in this country come from animals. But that means we're two-thirds of the way towards a vegan diet, right?
A classic vegan diet contains only plant-based foods. No meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy, eggs or honey. I tried a delicious vegan week including indulgences like Indian takeaway and vegan chocolate. It slashed 973 kilograms of carbon dioxide and equivalent emissions (CO2e) from the average Australian footprint.
It's getting easier and easier to eat vegan. You can buy meat and dairy substitutes online, in specialty shops or at the supermarket. You can get inspiration from other vegan and vegetarian cultures. Buy a decent cookbook, chat to your doctor, do some research and see how you go. Remember to add back the fat and flavour you lose when you remove meat and dairy. You may find it easier to adapt in stages. Start with one or two vegan days each week. Even if that's as far as you get, you'll still slash your CO2e.
Veganism may not be suitable for kids, pregnant or breastfeeding women or people with particular health problems. The rest of us should seriously consider eating vegan, most or all of the time, for the sake of our planet.
THIS IS THE SIXTH OF TEN INSTALLATIONS AT 'ART, NOT APART 2019'.
CAN YOU FIND NINE MORE HIDDEN AROUND THE FESTIVAL?
Lego kindly on loan from The Green Shed.
Data and sources are here. See also Blog Post for Week Thirteen.