The Breakfast Choice That's Better For The Planet Than Eggs Or Meat

For those looking to make little lifestyle changes to help reduce the effects of climate change, eating a more plant-based diet is one of the most impactful shifts you can make. You don't have to go full vegan to make a difference; even just cutting animal products once a week can have a measurable effect. When it comes to breakfast, there's one easy change a person can make: Instead of eggs and bacon, eat a bowl of oatmeal.

According to CO2 Everything, two eggs translates to 530 grams of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent). This approximation can change depending on factors like where the chickens were raised and fuels used in farming and transportation. At the same time, 30 grams of bacon (about one strip) contributes about 330 grams of CO2e (per Food Footprint). Compare all this to a 45-gram bowl of oatmeal, which equals 47 grams of CO2e. On top of it all, oatmeal is a sustainable food, meaning it improves the soil it grows in. On mornings when you really need a bacon and eggs breakfast, don't feel bad. In 2017, a report titled "Carbon Majors" found that since 1988, 100 companies produced 71% of industrial greenhouse gases. While your breakfast matters, the bigger impact to be made comes from these companies.

Eating oatmeal in the morning does more than just help the Earth — the environmentally friendly choice also provides plenty of health benefits. Oatmeal is full of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Oats do something most breakfast foods can't: They can help lower cholesterol levels, aiding those at risk of heart disease thanks to the presence of beta-glucan fiber. Comparing a breakfast of eggs to oatmeal in terms of health benefits is tricky — it all depends on what your body needs and what you add to each meal. What eggs lack in fiber, they make up in protein. Oatmeal — which can be loaded up with healthy fruits and nuts — won't be the solution to climate change, but it helps.

If you think oatmeal is just a bland bowl of mushy oats, think again. Our guide to upgrading your bowl of oatmeal will help you turn your breakfast into a flavorful experience to look forward to. You can even add an egg to bring in some protein. Loading oatmeal up with blueberries – either fresh or frozen and stirred in near the end of cooking — adds natural sweetness along with all the fiber and nutrients found in the berry. One of our personal favorite ways to make oatmeal is to add two tablespoons of tahini and one tablespoon of maple syrup for every cup of oats to add a creamy texture and healthy fats.