Day four: change your diet 

Watch today's video

Take on today’s challenge

The negative climate impact of meat is ten to 50 times higher than plant-based food. If we all reduced our meat consumption even slightly, the difference it will make will be enormous.

Option 1: Go meat-free for one day

Eating more vegetarian or plant-based food can be healthier for creation and for you. Choose one day a week where you don’t eat any meat.

Option 2: Go meat-free for three days

As above, but make it three days a week! You can also look into the ways we can all reduce our food waste to further tackle climate change.

Bonus idea

Get some ideas for sustainable, healthy recipes from websites such as BBC Good Food and Cooking on a bootstrap (there are plenty more out there too).

Pause to reflect

‘Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.’ (Genesis 1:11)

One of the first instructions God gives humans is to work and take care of the land (Genesis 2:15). Creation is more than capable of providing enough food for everyone – God made the earth for joyful abundance. But first, we need to follow God’s instructions and take care of it.

Many farmers, both here and around the world, farm in sustainable, creation-honouring ways. As we saw in today’s film, this has wide-reaching benefits. But, there are farming practices that harm, rather than care for, creation. Intensive farming – which relies heavily on chemicals and crowds animals together in often poor conditions – can be incredibly damaging: polluting rivers, degrading the soil, destroying vital biodiversity and emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

To make our own eating habits more sustainable, we can choose to eat more plant-based and vegetarian foods. The negative climate impact of meat is ten to 50 times higher than plant-based food. If we all reduced our meat consumption even slightly, the difference it will make will be enormous.

So today, reflect upon the food that you buy and eat. Where does it come from – not only the shop, but where in the world? Was it produced in a way that cares for creation, or harms it? 

Today’s prayer

Before each meal that you eat on this day, give thanks to God. You can do this as a family or group if you eat with others. Take a few moments before you start eating to thank God: for the weather; for the soil; for the farmers; and for the food itself.