In July, South Korean newscast revealed a new rise in vegetarianism, or plant-based diets in light of the recent pandemic. The segment focuses on a cooking class led by a monk, Yeogu of the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism, who wishes to teach innovative ways of cooking vegetables. Yeogu’s call to action to create the class came from the World Health Organization's reveal that an estimated 75% of infectious diseases come from animals. This news segment is not an anomaly; I (Maria) have noticed an increase in the popularity of the plant-based diets as a topic of conversation among many. The diet is popular partly because of its health benefits and most likely because of the dangers that zoonotic diseases like COVID-19, infections jumping from animals to humans, have recently demonstrated.
...sustainably speaking, any decrease in meat consumption will have an impact.
Alarmism from COVID-19 may sway an individual’s eating habits (surely everyone does not want another pandemic), yet it is important to recognize that a shift in diet would also be beneficial for the environment. Meat production is currently responsible for a large amount of CO2 levels in the atmosphere; factor in its packaging and transportation and the meat industry’s environmental impact is obvious. Thus, sustainably speaking, any decrease in meat consumption will have an impact.
I enjoy talking about food with others and advocate for a meatless diet and greater accessibility. I have met people like me who have also taught me so much about plant-based diets and from them, I continually change the way I look at my food. First, for sustainability, I have learned about doing what you can! Everyone has different levels of access and practices, completely changing your diet overnight is unrealistic. For example, I have stopped eating red meat, but there are other factors that limit me from becoming completely vegetarian or vegan. Second, food-related sustainability includes reducing food waste. Being at home and cooking constantly has allowed me to see how much product I use versus what I throw out, now I’m more aware about using the whole product, even if that means creatively. This is all to say, sustainability is a journey, and any step that you make along the way is progress.
I am interested in hearing how COVID-19 has impacted your sustainability habits in relation to food: Are you considering a plant-based diet? Are you passionate about food sustainability? Fill out your thoughts for a chance to be featured in the blog.
Maria Duran Gonzalez is currently living in Miami, Florida, and is a first-year prospective Environmental Analysis major. She is passionate about food justice, gardening, and intersectional environmentalism.