The Future of Lunch
by Contributing Writer on 16/07/07 at 4:57 pm | 
What do Albert Einstein and Weird Al have in common, besides the first name?
I’ll give you a hint: Pythagoras (of geometrical fame) and Pamela Anderson (of bosomy fame) share the same trait.
Stumped? Here are a few more clues. Young women are most likely to be in this group, as are U.S. west-coast dwellers. People who do it are more physically active, and have smaller waists. And, these days, even the elderly are joining in: they’re vegetarians.
But what does this have to do with the future? A few surprising facts to impress your friends:
• In August 2006, the University of Chicago released a study indicating that the average American diet produces an extra ton and a half of greenhouse gases each year (compared to a vegan diet), including a hefty dose of methane from, well, cow farts. Plus, “manure lagoons” associated with pork production emit nitrous oxide. In fact, turning in your regular car for a hybrid car does less to reduce greenhouse gases than does turning in your regular diet for a vegan one. Tastier, too.
• Seniors – and there are going to be a whole lot of them pretty soon – are moving towards vegetarianism in growing numbers. Faced with weight gain, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and increased cancer risk, seniors are listening to the increasing scientific evidence on the benefits of plant-based foods. Plus, it turns out that lentil soup, tofu stir-fry, and ratatouille are all yummier than a daily Dixie cup full of pills. While the exact numbers are difficult to track, HealthFocus Inc. finds that shoppers over fifty are buying less red meat, and vegetarian organizations report that increasing percentages of their memberships are over fifty.
• Hungry? Thirsty? Help yourself to eleven pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water. That’s what it takes to produce one burger, according to The Global Warming Diet by Laura Stec and Eugene Cordero. There are a whole lot of hungry people in this world, as you know, and clean water shortages are a major crisis already (getting worse by the day). Now that’s a pretty good humanitarian rationale for having an avocado sandwich instead.
At just 1% to 3% of the population, true vegetarians are still pretty uncommon. And yet, there is a palpable mainstream movement away from meat. A few decades ago, a plate without meat in the middle of it was called a side dish. Today, even daily meat eaters are trying a meatless dinner one night a week. As the authors of that University of Chicago study remarked, “It doesn’t have to be all the way to the extreme end of vegan. If you simply cut down from two burgers a week to one, you’ve already made a substantial difference.”
Of course, there’s another way to help the environment with your diet. According to Japanese ice-cream manufacturer Lotte, ice cream reduces your body temperature so you don’t need as much energy-guzzling air-conditioning.
Pass the soy ice cream.
• The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and the World by John Robbins
• VegCooking.com
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Kanna Hudson
Oct 3rd, 2008
Thank you for the compliment! As for linking, just a simple mention of Futurist.com would be just fine. No need for anything technically fancy.
Fred and Gayle Hoffman
Oct 3rd, 2008
Hey Kanna, (beautiful name, by the way)
Thanks for permission to “excerpt and link”.
The former comes easily enough. I would be most grateful for instructions (simple instructions, I hope) for linking to you.
Thanks
Fred
fredandgayle@charter.net
Kanna Hudson
Oct 3rd, 2008
Fred and Gayle, thank you so much for your comment. I guess “domestic methane production” is a small price to pay.
Yes, please feel free excerpt or link to this post on your blog, with a link to Futurist.com. Thanks for asking!
Best wishes with your goal – and congratulations on your progress.
Fred and Gayle Hoffman
Oct 3rd, 2008
Forgive me for singly out a single sentence from your beautifully written post; but, this one really hit home.
“Plus, it turns out that lentil soup, tofu stir-fry, and ratatouille are all yummier than a daily Dixie cup full of pills.”
Gayle and I are, and have been for years, up to our eyeballs in pills, pills, and more pills.
Our doctor, until recently hesitant to discuss our “morbidly obese” conditions, agreed that we could probably reduce our daily dosage by half when we adopt a healthier lifestyle—”eat a little less and exercise a little more”.
Eating less wasn’t all that appealing. Instead, we made a list of the foods that we really, really enjoy.
“Meatless” was never the goal; but we were very pleasantly surprised to find that we somehow are naturally moving in that direction by simply eating MORE of the vegetables and greenery that we love.
And, although our “domestic methane production” is UP, after a month we are 14 pounds closer to our eventual weight goal.
Thanks for the insights.
May we use some of your post over at our new blog?
Thanks,
Fred and Gayle
jon D. Sanford
Dec 16th, 2007
The drag with vegetarianism is most people have to get very sick before considering it.
Healthy people see vegetarians as weak and fussy. The most sensitive and vulnerable are affected first. The wise take warning.
The Healthy have more important things to do than worry about what food is good & bad to eat.
A lot of information about Alternative life style is associated with New age, fringe religion & Hippies. Becoming more conscious of good food & smarter shopping takes tremendous effort. Many Green merchandisers attempt to make it easy for you, it isn’t.
To the culture of success in business, this is not conspicuous consumption, therefore the enemy.
The virtues in most request for Leadership are aggression & stamina. Red meat & alcohol are a traditional reward & celebration for winners.
Just as individuals must suffer agony before changing bad habits, Must we witness a collective majority of pain before we do the right thing?