Eat for the Planet: Saving the World One Bite at a Time

by Nil Zacharias, Gene Stone

Do you consider yourself an environmental ally? Maybe you recycle your household goods, ride a bike, and avoid too much air travel. But did you know that the primary driver of climate change isn’t plastics, or cars, or airplanes? Did you know that it’s actually our industrialized food system? In this fascinating new book, authors Nil Zacharias and Gene Stone share new research, intriguing infographics, and compelling arguments that support what scientists across the world are beginning to affirm and By making even minimal dietary changes, anyone can have a positive, lasting impact on our planet. If you love the planet, the only way to save it is by switching out meat for plant-based meals, one bite at a time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Food, Vegan, Nature, How To, Audiobook

160 pages, Hardcover

Published March 20, 2018

About the author

Nil Zacharias is the founder of Eat For The Planet (eftp.co), a platform that's on a mission to transform our food system by supporting the growth of the plant-based foods industry, and promoting ideas and technologies that are shaping the future of food. He is a strategic advisor to the Plant Based Foods Association and the Plant Based World Conference and Expo. He is also co-founder of the health and wellness service 80/20 Plants (8020plants.com), co-author of the book “Eat For The Planet: Saving the world one bite at a time,” and is a sought-after international speaker on the topic of sustainability and the future of food. He was previously co-founder and editor-in-chief of the media platform One Green Planet, and prior to that, he worked for over a decade in the digital media and online advertising space as a lawyer, management consultant, and in various operational roles. Nil lives in Los Angeles, California.

Reviews

[Jenna ❤ ❀ ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of us know that climate change is a very real problem facing humanity and the other species we share the Earth with. We know we should recycle, use energy saving light bulbs, limit our use of fossil fuels. What many people do not know is that eating a typical Western diet directly contributes to climate change, and in a colossal way.

Eat for the Planet is a tiny book packed with lots of facts. At times it felt a bit redundant but perhaps that is a good thing -- stressing the dangers that we face and just how perilous a typical meat and dairy diet is. The authors do not stress the dangers on our health in this book, just on our environment. And there are many.

For instance:

• It takes 160 times more land resources to produce beef than vegetables.

• If you cut animal products (meat, dairy, eggs) from your diet, you will save around 1,500 gallons of water a day.

• Greenhouse gas emissions generated from the production of just an 8 ounce steak is equivalent to driving a small car for 29 miles.

• The livestock system is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector combined.

• In the US alone, livestock produce 396 million TONS of poop a year, which goes into open air lagoons, producing massive amounts of ammonia and some further 400 chemicals and trickling back into our water supply.

• That's enough poop to fill the entire Empire State Building every single day!

• Worldwide, 7 football fields of land are bulldozed every single minute to make room for more livestock.

• You can cut your carbon footprint in half simply by eating a plant-based diet.

You will find these and many more interesting facts about the livestock industry and its impact on our climate in this book. In each chapter, the authors break down what is likely to happen if we continue eating an animal-based diet, and the opposite scenario of how we can clean up our environment and slow down climate change just by changing what we eat.

This is not a bash-the-meat-eaters sort of book. It is one meant to inform. The authors realise that for most people, changing to a plant-based diet seems like an enormous change. He suggests just trying to cut out animal products one day a week, or one meal a day. There are an increasing number of vegan options available, foods that are much more nutritious and just as flavorful as animal products. (In my opinion, usually much tastier!) . I have a difficult time reading a lot of books by vegans because they detail the immense suffering heaped upon billions of animals every day; this book does not venture into that topic. Animal suffering is the main reason why I'm vegan and I hope that one day we will be able to move the entire world to a plant-based diet. Not only will we end so much needless suffering, but we and our planet will be much healthier because of it. If one wants to learn more about the plight of livestock animals, there are numerous other books; likewise if one wishes to learn about the health impacts of an animal-based diet. This book is solely about the effects on our environment.

[Kate Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, easy-to-read, with lots of simple graphs and boldface type, this book provides a solid argument for the immense environmental damage inflicted by livestock agriculture. Great for activists hoping to persuade others, but highly useful for anyone wanting to minimize his/her carbon footprint in the easiest possible way: change what you put on your plate. The authors skillfully convey not only the dramatic difference a major global move away from meat-eating would make, but the urgency of implementing these changes as soon as possible.

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing book should be required reading for all human beings on this planet. If you think you or a family member wants to still be living in planet earth in 25 years you should read this. So much change needs to happen. Very worried for my kids generation and my grandkids. There won’t be a healthy place for them to live. READ THIS BOOK!!!! Please 🌎

[Keith Akers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short and visually appealing book is aimed at a popular audience, but even "experts" will benefit from having it close at hand. Not to give away too much of the plot, but a diet friendly to the ecosystem which feeds us is going to be a plant-based diet as well. Plenty of footnotes, so anyone wanting to dig deeper doesn't have far to go. This small (pages 5" x 7") hardcover conveys the look and feel of a coffee-table book, only smaller and using only three colors; there are graphics or call-outs on almost every other page.

The authors quickly cover seven key issues — land, water, food, energy, pollution, deforestation, and species extinction, showing how a single dietary solution can address all of them. There's not a lot of heavy analysis, and in one key case (anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions due to livestock agriculture) the book cheerfully throws out two rather different answers to the same question --- both plausible and appropriately footnoted. But anyone who reads this book is going to have to do a lot of explaining to avoid the overwhelming implication of the facts thrown in our general direction. There is a huge amount of damage being done to the environment by livestock agriculture.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely important topic served short and to the point with data and facts.

[Pierce P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of those “must-read” books for every human.

[Eli Goh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives a concise yet compelling data and reasons on how we should rethink the way we eat so that we could eat for the planet instead of starving the planet of its natural resources. The primary factor in climate change is the industrialised food system, supply chain and consumerism.

Being a heavy meat eater myself, I have been trying to slowly switch out meat for plant-based meals, but it’s just so difficult because I was raised in an Asian family that believes that meat is an integral part of our diet, no doubt it is as meat provides us nutrients which we need, but now that I look back, these nutrients can also be obtained from non-meat sources at a lesser cost to our environment.

I embarked on a gradual change in my diet by incorporating more plant-based meals. I noticed changes in my body. I feel much better when I had plant-based meals as compared to having a conventional meal with meat.

This reminds me of that documentary which I watched on Netflix, named The Game Changers. The Game Changers shows how athletes embarked on a plant-based diet to optimise their performance and health.

I strongly recommend people to give this book a read. It’s not a long read, it would probably take an avid reader like me an hour or two to read. It contains infographics with data as of 2018 and the layout is pleasant to read.

[Merry · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little book full of facts (I presume they’re all accurate) about how the current eating habits of people in general are not eco-friendly and how in particular cutting meat out of our diets would be of benefit to the earth. It made for fascinating reading. My beef (pun intended) was that I found it unbalanced and if anything it didn’t present a complete picture. There are facts on the other side of the argument that one could easily have responded with so that reader could decide for him/herself which position to support. I found a somewhat related book to be more complete and that was Kiss the Ground by Josh Tickell.

[Tim Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

The authors have a strong and important point to make about the need to move away from livestock agriculture, and especially factory farming, because of the impacts on climate change and biodiversity loss. They do make that point . . . but they make it very repetitively while using lots of breathless prose to frame worst-case scenarios as absolute certainties. There are also more than a few places where the book editor in me wanted them to organize things into a better flow.

That said, it's a lot of (footnoted) information in a small, easy-to-read package — and it does highlight an issue of great importance for abating climate change.

[Gauri Parab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for middle schoolers and all those who are beginning to explore this subject. Interesting statistics and easy to understand graphics make this an ideal starting point. I found the text a bit alarming while describing the condition of the planet, yet hopeful that all is not lost. It’s the kind of message we want to give our youngsters.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider this a must read. It's a quick read with easy to comprehend graphs and real solutions to our planet's crisis. Should be on every school curriculum. I've been passing my copy around to any willing readers!

[Melissa Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Author concisely conveyed the dramatic difference a global move away from meat-eating will make and the urgency to do so as soon as possible. Great for environmentalist to inform. Graphs for reference. How to minimize your carbon footprint in a real and practical way.

[Jhonattan Maldonado · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a profesional with a big interest in making industries more sustainable, this book is great. It reminds us that change is within, while helping to understand the complexity of the food industry (which we are all part of).

The visuals help to enhance the facts and some comparisons are mind-blowing.

The big takeaways are:
- You do not need to stop eating meat entirely, start by reducing and adapt your diet for the sake of a healthier intake for you and Earth's resources.
- Animal related products consumed more resources (water, land, energy, etc) than estimated since the impact only measures what the animal needs to produce the products/byproducts it is used for.
- The land use and waste derived from animal products production is contaminating even the water we drink.
- Chemicals are released into the atmosphere and the soil making respiratory diseases as other diseases that most likely we will discover in the future (Alzheimer) less uncommon in areas where there is use of land for agriculture and farming related to the animal related food production.
- Industrialised food production (mostly for the dairy and meat industry, and fish of course) is reducing the natural habitats of especies that were long before us and sustain a balance in the much complexer earth relationship.

Give it a chance and you will be amazed!

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that struck me about this book is its colors. The book is printed in a black, green and white tone that feels very trendy and pleasing. Flipping through the book there are a lot of images and graphs that catch the eye and make reading through it very easy.

This book is filled with more facts and information than you will know what to do with on the first read, but it is presented in a way that is not dry and has an underlying humor. This is a great book to give to someone considering a meat free lifestyle, or even for someone who just wants to add a little fuel to their environmentalist fire. The information in this book made issues with the meat industry very real and comprehensible, and encourages readers to imagine a future where we are not able to curb our current consumption.

The only reason I am not giving this book the full 5 stars is because from a skeptics point of view, some of the sections where the writers are imagining our future feel a bit like hokie conspiracy and I think the message would thrive without those details!

[Maureen MacAuliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 Stars. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because I felt that at times it became too repetitive in the conclusion of what will happen if we don’t change the way we eat. Still I think it is a book that everybody should read because it has a lot of interesting facts about how humans are destroying the planet and may change your mind about how much animal products you decide to eat.

4,5 estrellas. La única razón por la que no le puse 5 es estrellas es porque sentí que en las conclusiones se volvía muy repetitivo en que pasará si no cambiamos la forma en la que nos alimentamos. De todas formas considero un libro que todos deberían leer ya que tiene muchos datos interesantes sobre como los humanos estamos destruyendo el planeta y talves cambié tu forma de pensar sobre cuantos productos de origen animal decides consumir.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is basically if I wrote a sarcastic diatribe about how you personally could prevent worst-case climate change and included nice, themed info-graphics with said rant.

Because of the visual nature this a quick read. Additionally it's mostly accurate (eating grass-fed beef/bison/camel? could actually be a part of a climate friendly diet if you live in a semi-arid grassland biome unsuitable for calorie crops) my only 2 complaints are: 1. This isn't really about saving the planet, it's about "saving" a habitable planet to continue the experiment of civilization; oh and maybe not letting 5 billion people starve to death. 2. Can we stop telling people to change light bulbs? Just turn the damn lights off.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been trying very consciously to do a better job of cutting meat and dairy out of my diet unless it was locally and responsibly sourced. This book didn't give me a ton of information, but it hit home in a quick way. The industrial meat industry is perhaps more dangerous to the planet then any other, but it is definitely under reported and under represented. I understand food is a very personal thing for people, and I'm not advocating giving up cold turkey. I certainly haven't done that. But if everyone does even a little bit, for example Meatless Mondays we can make a dent in this problem and make a huge improvement in our environment.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains interesting facts especially about how industrial animal agriculture is affecting the environment. Reading this book may help you be more aware of your food choices, because they DO affect all of us!
However though, the book can sometimes feel boring with too many statistics (great if you are already familiar with the topic and love to collect numbers from various sources, this book is a wonderful collection for that).
Anyway, it is a short book and worth reading if you want to know more how to "Eat for the Planet". It does indeed provide some useful advice on how to make your diet healthier, with lots of plant-based foods instead of meat.

[Keith De-Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new book by Nil Zacharias and Gene Stone is the perfect quick read that’s both informative in how our current food systems are devastating our planet and full of useful suggestions on how to be part of an lasting solution. I love how this book doesn’t get bogged down in lengthy and over complicated analysis. Rather, it very clearly highlights all the key taking points in an effective way that I think will do a great job at influencing readers eating habits without overwhelming those new to these concepts.

[Ashh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you consider yourself an environmentalist or someone who is striving to be more eco-concious?

This book is a fantastic starting point for anyone who is interested in seeing how animal agriculture affects the environment. The language in this book is very accessible and the authors get right to the point (which I greatly appreciate - I don't like unnecessary filler text).

It's a super quick read and covers such an important issue pertaining to the health of our environment.

I definitely recommend this book (you won't regret it)!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s easy for me to forget the details of why a plant-based diet is optimal for health, the planet & the animals. Most people I know are firm in their decision & it’s not really something we revisit. This book, however, helped to remind me. A lot of research connected the business of animal agriculture to the current problems we are experiencing, such as a shrinking rain forest, high gas & methane emissions from farms, for starters. If we do nothing, all these will get worse.

Even small changes can have a long-lasting, positive impact on the planet.

[Tammy Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for sharing the science behind what animal agriculture and CAFO's are doing to our planet, the place we all call home. It's small and fits perfectly in a purse and is light. It's beautifully written and the artwork inside is wonderful for reference. I was frankly shocked to find out how dangerous animal agriculture actually is. How can we continue to destroy the only home we have because we are appetite driven. It really makes you think twice about eating that burger.

[Keisha Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preaching to the choir, or so I hope. Im skeptics that the condescending tone would convince anyone not already tipping off the fence to try veganism. To its credit it focused on the environmental impact rather than ethics of eating animals.

Noticeable absence of eco concerns for type of plant based foods. High water usage, forest clearing for cash crops, greenhouses require power, emissions from transporting out of season tropical plants to norrthern counties.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The facts and figures provided by this book are at once astounding and terrifying. It was easy for me to feel depressed after reading but I wanted to continue to learn how badly we as a society are treating the planet. Anyone who reads this book will definitely feel guilty eating meat in the future.

[Renee McCallion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a *must-read*. Especially for folx who are environmentally conscious. Even though I have been vegan for 3+ years, I still learned a lot from this tiny, easy-to-read book. We can make many different choices to be more green, but one simple change that occurs 3x a day is the most impactful. And this one change quite literally affects the fate of our planet.

[Alex Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The message of this book is so important and it's delivered in a way that is really easy to digest. I do worry that some of the statistics were a little exagerrated, but if I really cared to check I could look at the sources they list in the back of the books.

I wish my parent's would read this book.

[Neisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of good facts and infographics in the book. It all felt very repetitive though. The repetitiveness is probably the point, but I wished that there was more diversity. Good information and easy to follow.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am finally on board for eating more plant based foods. This small book details the environmental impact of meat production. The author also has a podcast that has interesting speakers from the plant based movement and plant based food industry.

[Leashie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so informative!! It explained everything and all the affects our industrialized food system has on animals, the planet, and humans. But it was also fun to read because of the facts, diagrams, and page style.

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was truly eye opening! I feel it should be required reading for everyone!!! It is an easy to read book with impactful visuals that drive home the crucial facts about our choices and how we can turn things around to ensure a healthy world for all living things!!!