Super Eco

Photo credit: Sonny Side Up! on flickr

"Lessmeatarianism" is a term coined by cookbook athor Mark Bittman who advocates eating less of certain foods, specifically animal products, refined carbohydrates, and junk food, and putting less pressure on the planet. He further espouses eating more plants, close to their natural state. 

His book, "Food Matters", part manifesto, part cookbook, if practical and pragmatic. He describes his approach to eating less factory farmed animal protein, choosing instead small farmed, grass fed sources, more green, leafy foods and vegetables, fruits, and grains. He explains how eating less is easy on the budget and how eating fewer prepared, over-processed foods can reduce the pressure on the planet while also improving one's health.

In his book, Bittman states that the average American eats a half pound of meat daily, and that raising the meat contributes a fifth of all greenhouse emissions globally through methane gas. In addition, our food production is unsustainable, as it wastes resources and pollutes the environment through pesticides.

Bittman's food plan, which he called "Vegan until Six" involved his eating almost no animal products, white flour, sugar or junk food until six each day. After six, he ate as he had before. Within months, he had lowered his cholesterol, blood sugar, insomnia, and lost 35 pounds.