The biggest question I always get from people when I tell them I have stopped eating meat is: Why? Their question is often followed by a long lecture about all the great benefits that come with eating meat, all the nutrients that I’m missing out on, all the great food groups I’m missing, etc. My response: Tom Brady is a vegan and has six Super Bowl rings. 

And yes, I do miss meat, but everyone makes sacrifices, and meat was one of mine. 

So what’s the real reason I don’t eat meat anymore? I care about our environment and am actively trying to reduce my carbon footprint. I realized last year, when I stopped eating meat, how big of an impact consuming meat has on our carbon footprint. I initially stopped eating all red meat my first year at Brandeis and slowly reduced my consumption to just fish once every two weeks, when I’m craving something that isn’t plants or carbohydrates. 

One of the easiest ways to reduce our carbon footprint is to reduce our intake of meat consumption. Before I get berated for trying to change everyone’s diet, hear me out. I am by no means telling everyone to be a vegetarian, since that is realistically impossible. 

I do find myself very fortunate to be in a place where I am able to make this voluntary change to my diet and do recognize that this is not possible for all individuals, but it is something that is very impactful towards helping reduce your carbon footprint, the university’s carbon footprint and the world’s carbon footprint. 

Last year, I completed an analysis of our campus’ meat consumption and the corresponding carbon footprint. Through this study, I found that our school purchased, and consumed, over 250,000 pounds of meat, which added over one million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions to the earth. 

Even crazier, under 25 percent of our meat purchase was beef, and it accounted for 75 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions from our meat consumption. So, if you’re craving meat one day and can’t decide between grilled chicken or a hamburger, go for the chicken. It’s by far healthier and better for the environment. 

So, will you step up and take the challenge? Join the Brandeis Student Union Senate Sustainability Committee, the Brandeis Student Union Senate Dining Committee and the Brandeis Sustainability Ambassadors on Monday, Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., during the lunch period in Lower Usdan, for a meatless Monday celebration! During this time, there will be NO meat in the dining hall, but a variety of vegetarian and vegan friendly meals prepared by Sodexo, which builds upon the plant forward station that already exists in Lower Usdan that serves up great food. 

You can give up meat for a day, I promise; it is not that hard. Vegetarian/vegan food is so much better than what people think. Yes, it may just be plants, but plants are great!