English actor Stephen Fry is encouraging people to eat vegan for National Vegetarian Week.
Sporting a “Eat to Beat Climate Change” t-shirt, the comedian took to Twitter. Fry showed his followers what meatless recipes he’s cooking. “It’s #NationalVegetarianWeek and I’ve been in the kitchen trying three classic recipes with a veggie twist,” he tweeted.
The recipes include curry tofu with coriander chilli rice, “fish” and chips, meatless sausages and garlic herb mash with onion and gravy.
The Vegetarian Society’s National Vegetarian Week occurs from May 11 to 17. The week highlights the many benefits of eating a meat-free diet.
“I think it’s fair to say that there’s never been a better time to try cutting out meat and living a plant-based life,” Fry said in a statement. “I’ve found it good for health and energy, and if we all joined in … well, wouldn’t the planet be pleased!”
Plant-Based Diet: Good For The Planet
According to a 2018 study published in the journal Nature, diets heavy in animal products like red meats and processed foods could increase environmental pressures by up to 90 percent by 2050.
Registered dietician Sharon Palmer told CNN: “research consistently shows that drastically reducing animal food intake and mostly eating plant foods is one of the most powerful things you can do to reduce your impact on the planet.”
A 2016 study found cattle are one of the biggest sources of emissions. The consumption of beef in the average American diet generates roughly 1,984 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. By swapping beef with plant-based products, this number would be reduced by 96 percent. This equates to only 73 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
Fry Says ‘Milk Is Milk’
Earlier this year, Fry got into a heated Twitter battle over the labeling of the term “milk” on plant-based dairy products.
The discussion started when the actor posted a photo of an oat milk latte. He tweeted: “Quite pleased with this one because, while far from perfect, it’s the best I’ve managed so far with oat milk.”
His comment wasn’t favored by one of his followers, who wrote that oat milk simply “isn’t milk.”
Fry responded, saying “and peanut butter isn’t butter, quince cheese isn’t cheese, cream of coconut isn’t cream.” He added, “If you can milk an audience for applause and if you can milk a topic for discussion for all its worth, then I reckon you can milk an oat.”
