Burning Question: If you can't maintain a vegetarian diet for health reasons, what else can you do to make a positive impact?

@Papplehat asked, “if you can’t maintain a vegetarian diet for health reasons, what else can you do to make a positive impact?” 

Being a vegetarian certainly helps lower your carbon footprint, but when it’s not possible, there are other options when it comes to food. Global food production is responsible for 35% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, so it is a great place to start making a positive impact (BBC). 

Beef and other red meat produce the largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions (UN). Lowering your beef intake would reduce your carbon footprint by quite a bit depending on how much of it you currently eat. Following beef, lamb and other ruminants produce the second largest amount of greenhouse gases (BBC). Americans already eat significantly more red meat than what is recommended by nutritional scientists. They recommend half an ounce per day, and on average, Americans eat 2-3 ounces per day (NPR). Additionally, according to an article from Bastyr University, Americans eat about 80% more protein than they need (Bastyr).

Instead of beef, consider switching to poultry! The greenhouse gas footprint of chicken is nine times smaller than that of beef, and it even produces less CO2 than cheese (BBC). Turkey uses less than half the amount of water that beef does (Bastyr).  

If you eat dairy, try switching to softer cheese like cottage cheese instead of harder cheeses like parmesan because they require less milk. Yogurt is also less carbon-intensive than cheese (BBC). If you can, try some non-dairy milk, too. Alternatives like oat milk have on average one-third of the climate impact of dairy milk (TED).  

Another great way to lower your carbon footprint while still eating animal-based protein is eating lower on the food chain. Many kinds of seafood, depending on where it is sourced, can be much more sustainable than other meats. There is still debate over whether farmed or wild-caught fish is more sustainable, however, as an article from Vox suggests. Some fish, like salmon and trout, are carnivores and are still fed wild-caught fish even if they themselves are being farmed. When they are not fed other fish, they are fed corn and soy, which contribute to deforestation as well as the pollution of waterways with synthetic fertilizers (Vox).  

Filter-feeders like oysters are a more sustainable protein source because they don’t require feed, fresh water, or fertilizers. As the name suggests, they help keep the water clean by removing algae, organic matter, and excess nutrients from the water. Filter-feeders are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and B-12, and are a better source of zinc than beef (NOAA).  

Switching out any of the meat you eat or parts of your meals with vegetables and other plant-based protein sources, like beans and legumes, will help you reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and water usage (Bastyr).  

When many people take small steps towards eating more sustainably, it can make a big difference. Switching from beef to poultry and filter-feeders can reduce your greenhouse gas footprint and water usage by a huge amount. Check out your current impact of your diet here so you know where to start! 

Written by: Peri Muellner

References 

Gerretsen, I. (2025). What is the lowest-carbon protein? BBC.  https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20221214-what-is-the-lowest-carbon-protein 

Harrison, R. (2023). Eating for the environment without giving up meat. Bastyr University. (https://bastyr.edu/about/news/eating-environment-without-giving-meat 

Harvard. (n.d.). Footprint calculator. https://harvard-foodprint-calculator.github.io/ 

NOAA Fisheries. (2022). Sustainable pacific oyster farming. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/sustainable-pacific-oyster-farming 

NPR. (2024). Sustainable eating habits that can help the environment without taking over your life. https://www.npr.org/2024/09/12/g-s1-21786/sustainable-food-vegan-local 

Perkins, C. (2022). Wonder about the impacts of your daily cup of coffee? Here’s the bitter truth. TED. https://ideas.ted.com/truth-about-coffee-impact-on-environment-planet/ 

Torrella, K. (2024). Fish farming was supposed to be sustainable. But there’s a giant catch. Vox.  

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/379564/fish-farming-sustainable-wild-caught 

United Nations. (n.d.). Food and climate change: healthier diets for a healthier planet.  https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/food