Dear Editor,
With threats of global warming and environmental degradation, it is important to consider the effects of our eating habits on the environment. To produce a single pound of beef requires 5,214 gallons of water; compare this to 23 gallons per pound of lettuce and 25 gallons per pound of wheat. The National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science found that the production of 2.2 pounds of beef generates more carbon dioxide than an average car does after traveling 160 miles. Though a good start, with sources of water dwindling and the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide, we must try to do more than buy fuel-efficient cars and reusable grocery bags. When we consider the amount of resources used to produce meat compared with that of fruits and vegetables, and that all of the essential amino acids can be found in such combinations as rice and beans, a peanut butter sandwich and many additional alternatives to meat, making a conscious decision to protect our environment becomes less threatening to the convenience of a meat-eating lifestyle. In order to live in a sustainable manner, we must consider how our actions impact the environment. A significant part of such sustainability includes adopting a vegetarian lifestyle.