How to Be a Conscious Eater

planted there after they are gone. Like a beachgoer who cleans
up not just her own picnic spot but the sand surrounding her
area, legumes are pros at paying it forward. This feature makes
the plant proteins a great option for farmers practicing crop
rotation on their farmland, alternating them between grains
(such as wheat or barley) or seeds (such as canola or flax).

IF YOU’RE NOT CONVINCED THAT NITROGEN FIXING IS
ENOUGH TO EARN LEGUMES A PLACE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD
GROCERY ROTATION, CONSIDER THESE OTHER BENEFITS:
They win the prize for lowest environmental footprint of
any major protein source. Per 100 grams of protein, len-
tils emit just 1 measly kilogram of greenhouse gases. For
dry beans, the number is only 2.3 kg. Compare that to 3.8
for eggs, 9.6 for beef, and 14.1 for lamb. Per serving pro-
duced, lentils and dry beans need only 45 and 58 gallons
of water, respectively (assuming standard 1-ounce serv-
ings). Compare that with 124 and 320 gallons for pork and

PROTEIN FOOTPRINTS

Here’s how common foods stack up in terms of greenhouse

gas emissions per gram of protein.

WHEAT

CORN

LEGUMES

RICE

FISH

SOY

NUTS

EGGS

POULTRY

PORK

DAIRY

BEEF

LAMB & GOAT

FOOD I M PACT FOOD I M PACT

Source: World Resources Institute

Stuff that Comes from the Ground 27