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Make like Stella McCartney and Peter Dinklage: Help the world on Meat Free Day

Draw inspiration from high-profile people who explain why they won't eat meat

Serina Sandhu
Monday 15 June 2015 18:33 BST
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Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage is favourite to play the villain in Paul Feig's Ghostbusters reboot
Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage is favourite to play the villain in Paul Feig's Ghostbusters reboot (Getty Images)

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Do you think you could give up meat for one day?

That is what World Meat Free Day, marked today is asking everyone to do in an effort to help save the planet.

"We want to raise awareness of the benefits of eating less meat for a healthier, balanced dies that's better for our planet too," said the webiste.

If 10 million people swapped the meat in one of their meals for a plant bases protein, the website said, CO2 emissions would be reduced enough to drive around the world almost 2,500 times.

In addition, water usage would be reduced by 13 million tonnes, up to 5,700 acres of land could be saved. The number of calories saved would be 885 million.

But in addition to the environmental benefits, there are some health benefits to becoming a vegetarian too: a study in 2013 found that vegetarianism could reduce the risk of heart diease by 32 per cent.

Around two per cent of the population is vegetarian and according to Kantar Worldpanel, meat-free sales grew by 6.6 per cent in 2013 to £252.9 million.

Take inspiration from high-profile people who have chosen a vegetarian or vegan diet.

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