Eat Vegetables, Save Energy.

The article discusses how a vegetarian diet can contribute towards decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. In a study published in April 12 issue of Earth Interactions, researchers at the University of Chicago conclude that eating less red meat can help lower greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers, Pamela Martin and Gidon Eshel, compared the fossil energy requirements of five different diets: those based on red meat, poultry, and fish; a vegetarian diet; and what they call the "mean American diet". The diets consist roughly 70 percent plant-based foods and 30 percent meat, eggs, dairy, and fish. Using the U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics and other data, they calculated the total energy needed to grow, harvest, transport, and cook the foods. The researchers found that the vegetarian diet was the most energy efficient. The study also found that eating more fish and less red meat, a shift that many consumers make for health reasons, doesn't necessarily help reduce energy consumption. The average animal-based diet in the United States generates about 1.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide more per person per year than a plant-based diet yielding the same amount of calories.