Meat-free money saving recipes

In light of the UN’s Dr Rajendra Pachauri's recent call for people to eat less meat to help save the environment, and the 22% rise in meat and fish prices, there’s never been a better time to try meat-free meals.

The Vegetarian Society can help you do your bit for the environment and feed four people for less than £5 a meal. With recipes ranging from a simple vegetable soup through to a hearty sausage hotpot and a fast fruity crumble. For more details visit www.vegsoc.org or call 0161 925 2000.

“What we choose to eat is one of the biggest factors in the personal impact we have on the environment and everyone can enjoy tasty, meat-free meals on a budget. Research studies have shown that the single most damaging foodstuff is beef and all non-vegetarian diets required significantly greater amounts of environmental resources, such as land and water. By feeding grain and vegetables directly to people (rather than livestock) we can increase the amount of food available to everyone.” said Caroline Chisholm Head of Communications, the Vegetarian Society.

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Notes to editors

• For free recipes and full colour images or for more information, interviews please contact Su in the Press Office on 0161 925 2012 or email su@vegsoc.org

• Outside office hours The Vegetarian Society Press Office can be contacted on 07973 108 165/7. Alternatively visit the website for information at www.vegsoc.org/press

• Dr Rajendra Pachauri is chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the joint winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Did you know?
Meat-free - green maths.

Greenhouse gases Important greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. The gaseous emissions caused by livestock include those generated by fertilizer manufacture and feed production, transportation of animals across the globe and from animal excretions and flatulence.

Methane maths! There are approximately 1.4 billion cattle on the planet. A single cow can produce as much as 500 litres of methane per day. Methane has 23 times the global warming impact of carbon dioxide

Thirsty planet Vegetarianism is the diet for a thirsty planet. It takes between 1,000 - 2,000 litres of water to produce one kilogram of wheat compared to estimates of 13,000 up to 100,000 litres of water to produce the same amount of beef.

Lost rainforest Livestock production is responsible for 70% of the Amazon deforestation in Latin America where the rainforest has been cleared to create new pastures.

Land A vegetarian diet requires around 2.5 times less land than that of a meat-based one.

Missing fish The very existence of many species is threatened by society’s appetite for fish flesh as over-fishing has resulted in tuna, cod, swordfish and marlin populations declining during the last century.

Positive choice - Going vegetarian is part of the whole ethic of green living. The environmental arguments are strong, but many vegetarians simply believe that it is wrong to kill when there is no need to.

Meat-free money saving tips and hints
• Try making one of our meat-free made easy recipes – you never know you may like it. Visit www.vegsoc.org
• Bulk buy your ingredients
• Cook from scratch – not only will it be cheaper but you could end up with less packaging to rid of.
• Have a look at different ingredients such as dried pulses
• Try and buy vegetables and fruit in season and locally produced.
Visit www.vegsoc.org for information about meat-free meals and the environment.