Ditch the meat for New Year’s<\/p>\n
With the glow of Christmas barely behind us, we look forward to the new year and the customary new year’s resolutions: reduce social media, reduce weight, and, this year, reduce animal food consumption.<\/p>\n
One third of consumers already report reducing their consumption of animal foods. Hundreds of school, college, hospital and corporate cafeterias have embraced Meatless Monday. Even fast-food chains Chipotle, Denny’s, Panera, Subway, Taco Bell, White Castle are rolling out plant-based options.<\/p>\n
A dozen start-ups, led by Beond Meat and Impossible Foods, are creating healthy, eco-friendly, compassionate, convenient, delicious plant-based meat and dairy products. Meat industry giants Tyson Foods, Cargill, and Canada’s Maple Leaf Foods have invested heavily in plant-based meat development. So have a number of Microsoft, Google, Twitter, and PayPal pioneers.<\/p>\n
According to Plant-Based Foods Association, plant-based food sales have grown by 20% in the past year, 10 times the growth rate of all foods. Sales of plant-based cheeses, creamers, butter, yogurts, and ice creams are exploding at a 50 percent growth rate. Plant-based milks now account for 15% of the milk market.<\/p>\n
The plant-based New Year’s resolution requires no sweat or deprivation \u2013 just some fun exploration of your favorite supermarket and food websites.<\/p>\n
Samson Natal<\/p>\n
Frisco<\/p>\n
Politicians should pay up<\/p>\n
So here we are in Week Two of the government shutdown. I have an idea \u2014 how’s about the politicians involved in this hot mess all forego their pay? I have just read that in Joshua Tree National Park the park rangers cannot work, so the restrooms are being cleaned and stocked by local volunteers. How’s about we get the politicians to volunteer to give up their pay \u2014 starting at the top with Trump? This letter may seem simplistic, but my message is simple \u2014 why should the people who shut down off paychecks for America’s government workers get their paychecks? They shouldn’t.<\/p>\n
Jennifer Eisenlau<\/p>\n
Boulder, CO<\/p>\n