Plant based diets are not "eco friendly." I'm not sure who came up with that crock of shit, most likely the companies that desperately want you to rely on them.
You have been conditioned to rely on the main food chain at the mercy of corporate farmers.
This article will tell you what you can actually do to help yourself, and the environment.
1.) The real issue is mass production of anything.
Let's get down to it. The only solution to our eco-problems is to become in union with nature again.
How can we do that? Local trade and farming. Be that homesteads, trading with neighbors, or supporting a nearby farm. Something cannot be eco-friendly and mass produced.
The people who produce your food paid BIG bucks to figure out how to make sure you need them. This meant destroying small food chains, your local farmers, and your ability to feed yourself.
Reduce the Food Supply Chain.
Provider (seeds/supplies) > farmer > processing > distribution > retail > consumer
V.S.
Provider > farmer (you/neighbor) > consume
2.) The notion that a plant based diet is superior to an animal diet is insane.
Someone always wails "a scientist" proved it!
You know what else science has proven?
That 1.2 million (or more) native animals are killed during crop production.
Some dork always argues that most of those animals are killed when making crops for animals. Well, if we don't eat the animals, we need to eat something else. Obviously the crops used to feed animals would soon be needed to feed us.
We also know we evolved eating animal products. We are omnivores. This is not up for debate.
The Great Apes are omnivores - as are all primates. Pigs are omnivores. Look at our body mechanics and digestive system. It's clear as day.
It wasn't until man picked up the spear that our brains had the nourishment and strength to become intelligent enough to thrive. To exclude meat entirely is to exclude mans natural diet.
3.) We already know it takes far more plant material to sustain humans as opposed to meat.
If every human ate "plant based" we'd need more land for crops, a lot more water, more gas for harvest, more gas for transport, more gas for processing, more land for storage, more fertilizer, more wildlife death to protect the crop.
You constantly hear people state you can eat "more" when you eat vegetables.
How the fuck is eating more eco-friendly?
4.) You have been conditioned to rely on the main food chain.
Does your area naturally produce mangos, bananas, pineapple, coffee, or strawberries in midwinter? A plentiful harvest during a dry time? How about any other crop out of season? Meat can always be grown local.
In order for you to eat a plant based diet 24/7 you would need access to a variety of foods. Many that are out of season to guarantee you wouldn't develop nutritional issues.
This means you need to get things from far away.
We also know the people funding these "eco" studies don't want you to do things for yourself.
3.2 million animals, wild and even family pets, were killed by the government using your tax dollars in 2015 to "protect" agriculture.
We have witnessed big agriculture force smaller farms out the door. If they refuse to produce for big companies, they get smashed.
There are now patent infringements on seeds which farmers can be sued for using, despite still growing the crops themselves.
Many small farmers have their livestock taken and killed under the guise they were inspecting for "mad-cow." Seldom showing positive results, and no compensation is given to the farmer for the dead animals.
Eggs are being smashed, milk is being dumped, meat burned, and vegetables thrown out.
I strongly encourage you to pay attention to what happens when you try to produce and supply your community with food without providing income to the government.
Below is an actual FBI raid over milk.
So, what can you do?
The only way to find sustainable food is to Reduce the Food Supply Chain.
Farm for yourself.
Agriculture Co-op trade.
CSA (community supported agriculture).
Shop at local butchers.
Buy local shares of livestock. (You can purchase sections of butchered animals).
Look for local farmers selling things you need.
Hunt.
Be a part of the community around you, you'll be surprised at how cost effective and sustainable your smaller local food chain is.
We need to agree the problem is not meat. It is mass production of anything.