Spring is perfect time to go meatless

Published 9:44 pm Wednesday, March 21, 2018

To the editor:

With three crippling nor’easters battering our East Coast in quick succession, we all look forward to balmy weather and flowers in bloom.

It’s also a superb occasion to replace animal foods on our menu with healthy, delicious, eco-friendly vegetables, legumes, grains and fruits.

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The shift toward healthy eating is everywhere. Fast-food chains like Chipotle, Quiznos, Starbucks, Subway, Taco Bell and Wendy’s all offer plant-based options. Major publications and popular websites tout vegan recipes.

Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt views replacement of meat by plant protein as the world’s No. 1 technical trend. The financial investment community is betting on innovative start-ups, like Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods. Even Tyson Foods’ new chief executive officer sees plant protein as the meat industry’s future.

Global Meat News reports that nearly half of consumers are reducing meat intake. Indeed, per-capita red meat consumption has dropped by a whopping 25 percent in the past 40 years.

Every one of us can celebrate spring by checking out the rich collection of plant-based dinners and desserts in our supermarket’s frozen food, dairy and produce sections. An internet search on vegan foods brings rich rewards.

Sullivan Nectar

Suffolk