When Burger King introduced the meat-free Impossible Whopper, it created quite a stir. While meatless alternatives were not new at the time, the Impossible Whopper introduced the public to the joys of plant-based eating in a new way.

Meat-free and other plant-based products continue to grow in popularity as purists and non-purists alike embrace a more “plant-forward” approach to eating, one that includes minimally processed meat substitutes, as well as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and even plant-based milks.

This isn't surprising. The number of vegans has increased by 600% during the past three years. And nearly one in four Americans report eating less meat over the past year, according to a recent poll conducted by Gallup.

This trend is primarily driven by concerns about health and the environment. This is consistent with myriad research that shows how eating more plants and fewer meat and meat-based products not only decreases our risk factors for disease, but is good for our planet as well.

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More plants for better health

Plants do the body good in several ways. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains are generally lower in calories but rich in fiber and important nutrients. When eaten in moderation as a meat replacement, these plant-based foods can help you not only lose weight, but keep it off over time.

Since we get two-thirds of our proteins from plants, these foods can also improve exercise performance and recovery, which is why many athletes include them in their diets.

And, most importantly, consuming an abundance of plant-based foods can help to mitigate and prevent conditions like heart disease and diabetes. The results of countless studies point to how plants significantly improve these and other chronic health issues. 

The good news is you don't have to be a vegan or vegetarian to reap these benefits. Simply cut back on meat and dairy and add more vegetables to your meals. In fact, some experts say that if we all just increased our plant intake, we could prevent as many as 11.6 million premature deaths a year.

Eating less meat does the earth good

While good health is a great reason to consume more plants, doing so does the planet good by conserving resources, helping to alleviate hunger, and promoting clean air. The total allocation of U.S. agricultural acreage devoted to livestock feed and grazing is extraordinary. A small reduction in the demand for beef and other meat proteins can make a big impact on the environment, both from the ability to reallocate acreage to fruits and vegetables that go directly into the food chain as well as the effect of less waste and emissions from fewer animals. Consider this: if every American ate the equivalent of one less burger a week, it would be like taking 10 million cars off the road each year.

While beef has, by far, the largest carbon footprint—every gram of protein sends 221.6g of CO2e into the atmosphere (as compared 1g to 4 g for tofu)—lamb, pork, and dairy can be problematic as well. Even freshwater fish farming has been shown to release methane gas into our water.

Go ahead and have that ice cream

The environmental and health benefits of eating more plants go hand in hand. You don’t need to drive a Tesla to make a difference. You can simply opt for more plant-based meals, which is easier to do than ever before thanks to the availability of whole foods, as well as healthy, delicious, and convenient new products. Here’s how:

• Choose lower-impact foods. Replace beef and lamb with more sustainable options like chicken and wild-caught fish. Because these animals eat a better diet and have less saturated fat, they’re better for you, too.
• Incorporate plant-based milks and creamers like almond, coconut, cashew, pea protein, soy, hemp, and oat. These foods are gaining attention for their good flavor and nutrition, and how well they import into other non-dairy foods, like yogurt, cheeses, butters, and yes, even ice creams.
• Try meat-free options that replace the taste of meat. Wheat-based seitan and soy-based tempeh and tofu, for example, can be marinated, baked, and grilled. You may be surprised by just how good they taste.
• Cook with healthy fats, like canola and olive oil.
• Make whole foods—unrefined grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and beans—the stars of your menu. Eat them on their own or add them to salads, whole-grain pastas, and rice.

While the Impossible Whopper may have introduced many people to the pleasures of plant-based foods, good experience, science, and impact on the planet continue to draw more people in. Whether you do it as an act of self-improvement or environmentalism, adding plants to a well-balanced diet is always a win-win.

updated April 2023

Additional Resources

Is Vegan the New Organic? Plant-Based Foods Top $3.1 Billion in Sales
Why Cutting Back on Beef Is Good for You and the Planet
The Most Effective Way To Save The Planet