Thanksgiving arrives every year with a heated debate over how to best cook that plump and juicy turkey. But the idea of a tofu turkey (also known as a “tofurkey”) has gone from a joke a couple years ago to a reality for many. While vegetarianism has been practiced for over a thousand years in some countries, it is a relatively new concept in the West. And so, with the question cropping up more and more often, should we eat meat?
If you’re worried about the environmental implications of meat eating, just remember that the issue isn’t black and white. Fretting about methane emissions? Greenpeace has suggested kangaroo as a sustainable low-methane alternative red meat. Why not have a heaping helping of delicious kangaroo loin with fig sauce for dinner instead of a bowl of quinoa?
Worried about the amount of petroleum being burned to grow meat and bring it to your plate? The concept of “food miles” has become much more complicated recently, with new studies turning up surprising findings about the relative amount of fossil fuels consumed in different meals. New Zealand lamb shipped to the U.K by boat, for example, produces less carbon than British lamb eaten in the U.K., and far less than most beef. Different kinds of meat have radically different environmental impacts. Be specific about your concerns and eat accordingly, rather than imposing a blanket ban.
A dozen hothouse apples might cause more carbon emissions than a slice of delicious crispy bacon, so scope out the facts before assuming all vegetarians are greener than all meat eaters.
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