Eating to Save the Planet

KIRKUS REVIEW

Avoiding a hard sell, Broyles lays out, in seven chapters, the argument that adopting a vegan diet can help combat the environmental crisis. She starts with the basics as a colorful graphic from Li helps define the terms herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore, as well as vegan, flexitarian, and vegetarian. The author touches on the intersection between food and culture and succinctly summarizes the origin and effects of climate change. Although Broyles clearly identifies corporations as the drivers of the meat industry, she also invites readers to calculate their own carbon footprints—a concept that’s drawn criticism, as it shifts the emphasis away from the systemic causes.

She calculates the environmental costs of raising livestock (cows in particular), leading to a detailed takedown of the meat industry. Broyles offers alternatives to factory farming and to meat eating; she also demonstrates that merely cutting back on meat consumption would reduce one’s environmental footprint, but her focus is on introducing and promoting veganism, and she explains its rationale, history, and practice. She concludes by listing several well-known vegans and addressing a key concern for some parents: Will a vegan diet supply enough protein and other nutrients? The writing is direct and accessible, with sidebars to clarify unfamiliar terms. Cartoon-style images depict diverse kids.
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A gentle but persuasive case for vegan eating. (further resources, bibliography, source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 9-12)

BOOKLIST

First recognizing that food is not just about personal choices but part of our culture, Broyles makes a case for eating a vegan diet. Although the author explains the health benefits later in the book, her initial charge is advocating for the health of the planet by linking climate change and what we eat in detailed yet accessible chapters. Using timely facts, figures, and graphs, she focuses on the negative impact of confined animal feeding operations (which supply 98 percent of meat and eggs in the U.S.), such as massive water consumption, livestock’s greenhouse gas emissions, chemical runoff, and water pollution. The author also considers the human cost of the meat industry, from the loss of small farms to physical injuries. Following this analysis, Broyles gives a primer on veganism, both as a diet and philosophy of life. Never didactic or judgmental, she suggests low-pressure and gradual ways to become vegan or even a part-time vegan. Extensive vegan resources, including famous vegans and protein and nutrient guides, wrap up this thought-provoking and practical guide.

— Angela Leeper

YA AND KIDS BOOKS CENTRAL

“While many middle school students think that a breakfast of Takis and sour gummy worms is perfectly fine, there are many others who are starting to give thought to how food fuels their bodies, and realizing that there are many things to consider. Both of my daughters became vegetarians in high school, and would have found this book to be very useful. Saving the planet one meal at a time is a great way to think about the contents of this excellent nonfiction title, which I will purchase for my readers who are interested in learning more about how what is on their plate affects the planet.”

—Karen Yingling