"People should consider eating less meat as a way of combating global warming. UN figures suggest that meat production puts more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than transport."
Rajendra Pachauri, United Nations Climate Scientist

By making some simple lifestyle choices when it comes to the food we eat, we are able to ensure animals do not suffer unnecessarily. There are many documented benefits to following a vegetarian lifestyle such as:

• Improved health, including being less likely to become overweight, develop heart disease or Type II Diabetes. (source: National Vegetarian Week)
  
• Lessened environmental impact. Learn more about the environmental impacts of vegetarianism.

If committing to a full vegetarian diet seems too daunting a step, why not give Meat Free Monday a whirl? Not only will you be doing good by the planet but you'll also have the opportunity to get creative and experiment with new foods and flavours that you may not otherwise consider. Learn more about Meat Free Mondays and pick up some tasty yet simple and affordable meat free recipes.

Alicia Silverstone
In 1995 Alicia Silverstone starred in Clueless as Cher Horowitz, the head girl we all aspired to be with the closet we all hoped technology would make real. In 2009 Alicia is not only admired for her style (though she does list these Steve Madden 'Cecilia' Boots amongst her favourites), she is also now committed to animal activism and is the author of vegan book, The Kind Diet: A simple guide to feeling great, losing weight, and saving the planet.

Like so many vegetarians, Alicia Silverstone was not brought up on a non-meat diet. However, Alicia's love of animals saw her make the informed choice to become vegetarian in order to reduce their suffering. Check out Alicia's video in support of PETA below.


Alicia Silverstone's Sexy Veggie PSA
Order a FREE vegetarian starter kit at GoVeg.com

Milo Ventimiglia
He won us over as Rory's boyfriend Jess in the Gilmore Girls and has continued to set pulses racing as Peter Petrelli on the acclaimed television series Heroes. Proving that you certainly don't need to be able to down a t-bone in order to stake out your masculinity is Milo Ventimiglia.


Photo by Joits.

Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman, the Israeli American actress who looks smokin' even with her head shaved. Natalie has eaten a non-meat diet since childhood and recently chose to follow a vegan diet. Natalie leads the way with support of ethical fashion as an advocate against wearing fur, feathers or leather. In 2007 Portman launched her own line of vegan footwear. Natalie says, "I am a very strict vegetarian ... I just really, really love animals, and I act on my values."


Photo by Mira (on the wall).

Carl Lewis
Proving that veganism does not prohibit ability to excel on the sporting world stage, track and field star Carl Lewis has been vegan since 1990. Lewis even credits his best year in competitive track to his vegan diet. Learn more about Carl Lewis's transition to veganism at EarthSave.org, Carl Lewis on Being Vegan.


Photo by lorenzinhos.

Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis was catapulted to super stardom after winning Britain television series The X Factor in 2006. Since then Lewis has released two albums, the first of which became the fastest selling debut album in the United Kingdom. As such, Lewis is in high demand but when luxury department store Harrods approached the songstress with a lucrative deal to open their 2008 store sale, she turned them down. Harrods stocks fur products and Lewis has spoken on numerous occasions about her opposition to animal cruelty. A committed vegetarian since the age of 12, Lewis was named PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian for 2008, it's not difficult to see why.


Photo by treslola.

A few more celebrities showing us how vegetarianism is done include Pink, David Duchovny, Paul McCartney, Stella McCartney, Russell Brand and Chris Martin. (source)


Are you vegetarian or vegan? Do you have a favourite celebrity role model?