Over the next month, ACE will run a series of blogs called Less Meat March. During this series you can expect to hear different perspectives, get yummy recipes, and be challenged to eat a little less meat.

Sophie Ostlund, Chicago Senior Educator

My parents are chefs. Really, really good chefs. Chefs that happen to like to cook with animal products. In fact, given the opportunity, I think my dad would butter his cheese and wrap it in bacon. So when I told them I wanted to become a vegan (which meant I didn’t want to eat any animal products—meat, dairy, or eggs), I was afraid their reaction was going to be one of horror. Thankfully, it was simply one of confusion—but I knew I still had a lot of explaining to do.

This was my answer: Being vegan is one of my DOT’s—a choice I can make each day that helps the environment and cools the climate.  To me, eating less meat is about making a conscious choice about the impact my food has on my body and on the environment, every time I eat.

It’s more than just the environment that keeps meat off my menu.  Even so, there are a TON of reasons that not eating meat–or simply eat less meat–is awesome for the environment. Disclaimer: I’m not saying that you have to go out and become a vegan to go green. If you want to go totally meat-free, great! High five! Bueno! Bien! We’ll totally be in a vegan club together and be bff4evah and wear matching “meat free is the way to be” t-shirts.

Spicy Chipotle Tofu Sandwich

But that might sound overwhelming—so, let’s start with baby steps. You can go green and meatless for just one day, or you could try having one meat-free meal a week, or maybe, just maybe, you’ll start going green with every meal you have. What YOU eat is YOUR choice—so make that choice count.

One way to make that choice easier is to make plant-based food that tastes awesome.  That’s why I’m sharing one of my favorite meat-free recipes with you today, via the fantastic blog Health, Happy, Life: The delicious Chipotle Tofu Sandwich. It’s easy to make, earth-friendly, and best of all, ridiculously good.  It’s a sandwich even my parents could love.