With all of our normal lunch spots overcrowded with families here for graduation, it was the perfect day for a Press-wide Meatless Monday. The Yale Press Green Team encouraged everyone to bring in a dish to share as their YUP May Green Tip. We met on the sunny patio with our own dishes and flatware for the feast — an altogether wholesome lunch to start the week off right!

Eating vegetarian one day a week can be good for both you and the environment. The Meatless Monday website lists the following environmental benefits to reducing meat consumption:

• REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide . . . far more than transportation. And annual worldwide demand for meat continues to grow. Reining in meat consumption once a week can help slow this trend.
• MINIMIZE WATER USAGE. The water needs of livestock are tremendous, far above those of vegetables or grains. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef. Soy tofu produced in California requires 220 gallons of water per pound.
• HELP REDUCE FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCE. On average, about 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S. Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein. Moderating meat consumption is a great way to cut fossil fuel demand.

Get recipes and learn more about the Meatless Monday movement on their website.