Are you looking for ways to up your plant-based diet game? If you live in Portland, or one of the other top ten cities, eating vegetarian or vegan is pretty easy to do. Opting for less or no meat is a great way to show your love for our earth and your body.

During this pandemic, meat-processing plants have proven to be hot spots where COVID-19 spreads rapidly too. Ask yourself, are you so desperate for meat if it means someone must run the high risk of being infected? Protein comes in many other forms– including tofu, edamame, tempeh, seitan and quinoa.

I encourage you to order a meatless meal with your next takeout order or google vegetarian and vegan recipes you can make at home. Cooking with vegetables and alternative, plant-based sources of protein is fun and rewarding! No doubt, you’ll have more energy and will be making a contribution toward reducing climate change and slowing the spread of the coronavirus. How’s that for empowering?!

Click here to read more about where your city ranks and compares with others on cost of groceries, number of vegetarian menu items, and more.