Three conditions are gradually changing which may have a dramatic impact on the way we live. First, the planet’s growing population is accelerating putting strains on financially burdened governments to support health care for its citizens. Second, the planet is experiencing a natural warming trend exaggerated by pollution which affects crop development and food sources. Third, over-harvesting earth’s natural resources is reducing chances for sustainable long-term living conditions as we know them now.
What does this mean for our survival? It means it gets harder.
When large portions of an increasing population are not able to pay for health care and do not receive adequate health care benefits from the government, the effective cost of ill health increases. These costs get transferred to the tax payer. By relying on the health care system as a safety net instead of living a healthy lifestyle, personal costs go up and risks of inadequate treatment rise.
When food sources become scarce, the cost of food increases as we may see with meat and dairy products due to the droughts in the Midwest. A large portion of crop output goes to feed the animals which supply meat and dairy. If those products are the main component of one’s diet, the weekly food budget risks expanding without similar increases in personal income.
Lastly, when the environment as we know it becomes less sustainable, the cost of living increases dramatically as more monetary resources are needed to live comfortably up to the point where the cost of well-being becomes infinite as fewer and fewer place are habitable. Natural resources required to support animal agriculture is one of the bigger demands on the planet.
Although these are heavy concepts and not much fun to think about, the solution is fairly simple. If more people transition to a plant-based diet and make vegetables the main course, then personal long term health improves, personal expenditures on food decreases, and the likelihood of a sustainable environment increases.
As a result we see the possibility of a new American dining style with vegetables replacing meat for protein. Some of the world’s top chefs have indicated that vegetables meals will be the big trend in fine dining and restaurants are gearing up for the demand by creating inventive dishes. The downstream affect could be vegan eating habits in more households across the U.S. for at least some meals during the week.
Currently only 5% of Americans are vegetarians and 2% vegan. But, as the desire to live a healthy and comfortable life becomes harder as changing conditions make it more difficult to do so, one effective way to adapt is for more people to enjoy vegan meals each week resulting in a greater chance for everyone to survive in health, peace, and happiness.