What would happen if the chain between farm and table were as transparent as the gas filled plastic tub that encloses the hamburger I got yesterday at the grocery?

I’d have to look at some fairly unpleasant facts..and first and foremost is that the true cost of that pound of protein is a lot more than the price on the tag.

Consider the following, random and relevant:

• Cows burp up more greenhouse gas than our cars.  And the 130 gallons of methane they produce as they chew their cuds traps 20 times as much heat in the atmosphere as CO2.
• Livestock production produces 18% of all greenhouse gases, more than all forms of transportation combined.  So if we cut down on the number of meat based dishes we eat each week, there will be less demand for cows, and we can help reduce greenhouse gases.
• Cows are ridiculously inefficient protein factories.  It takes 10 calories of energy to produce 1 calorie of beef.  All that energy is expended growing, fertilizing and transporting the grain that comprises the diet of factory farm raised beef.
• Switching to a diet that is mainly fruits and vegetables would be good for the planet, the pocketbook and the pants size.

But beef tastes good.

I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been at a ski mountain with a huge LL Bean bag filled with sandwiches and chips and fruit, and have decided to chuck it all in favor of $14 burgers–lured into the restaurant by the irresistible aroma of a half pound of juicy deliciousness being pressed into a sizzling grill.

So what’s the answer?

I am going to try to adopt a year of moderate changes, and drag the (cave)men I live with along.

For the past couple of years we’ve been having a meat free dinner one night a week, which we call Meatless Tuesday.  (The name came from a ditty sung by an overall-wearing flea in a Looney Tunes cartoon as he scampers around the obscenely large hair follicles of some animated hound dog).  Did I mention I live with men and only men?  And that those men can name any Looney Tunes cartoon in 3 notes?  But I digress.

So far I’ve been using cheese as a substitute for meat — and everyone is happily distracted by Putanesca sauce, swiss chard panini, veggie calzones and grilled red pepper sandwiches.  All of which are loaded to the brim with cheese.  Tasty, and really helpful in getting all those veggies safely down their gullets without complaint.

But if the goal is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses by reducing livestock demand, how can increasing our dairy consumption be any better?

This weekend I am planning an experiment: vegetarian chili without the usual accouterments.  I’m hoping  some crushed tortilla chips as a garnish might distract everyone from the lack of cheese and sour cream.

And I’m thinking I better try this Saturday.  No way in hell the people I live with could possibly watch the Superbowl without a spicy, saucy bowl of chicken wings.  Balance?  Baby steps?

I would love, love, love to hear ideas for meals that are

• completely animal product free
• happily eaten by children
• economical

ok, ok…how about two out of three?