Transcript:
People who are serious about working out and bulking up are often looking for ways to eat more protein.
Fitch: “And because they’re wanting to eat more and more protein, they’re also eating more and more animal products.”
But Emilie Fitch, founder of the nonprofit People For Better Food, says that eating too much meat and dairy can harm people’s health. And it’s also bad for the climate because animal agriculture is responsible for a lot of carbon pollution.
So her group launched a campaign called Plants for the Win.
They teamed up with social media influencers, such as the bodybuilder Jesse James West – who has more than 9 million YouTube followers – to spread the word about the benefits of eating plants.
In one video, West talks to guys at the gym about adding beans, seeds, and vegetables to their diets. He says many of these foods can provide protein, boost energy, reduce inflammation, and improve heart health.
Fitch says the goal is not to turn everyone vegetarian but to encourage athletes to cut back on meat and replace those calories with nourishing alternatives.
Fitch: “That’s going to help climate for sure. It will most likely help their long-term health, and it will probably help them feel better in the gym on a day-to-day basis. So I think it’s a win-win across the board.”
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
