5 Reasons Going Vegan This Lent Will Be the Kindest Thing You’ve Ever Done

Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts approximately 40 days, has a profound spiritual meaning for Christians, as we honor Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice by giving up something ourselves.

And if you’re among the many people who choose to forgo meat (including fish), milk, and eggs for Lent, you’ll have a profound impact on the rest of the world. When you eat cruelty-free, you’re saving lives, fighting poverty, and curbing climate change—so your conscience will be that much clearer.

Signing our Pledge to Go Vegan for Lent is the easiest way for Christians to honor God’s creatures, the world that He entrusted to us, our own bodies, and our brothers and sisters who have dangerous, bloody jobs on factory farms and in slaughterhouses.

Here are five reasons why going vegan for Lent will be one of the kindest things that you’ve ever done:

1. You’ll save 44,000 gallons of water. It takes 1,800 gallons of water to produce just 1 pound of meat, which is about equivalent to 20 full bathtubs.

2. You’ll save the lives of about 22 animals. The practices of the animal-agriculture industry are a far cry from how Christ instructed us to care for “the least of these among us.”

3. You’ll help reduce agricultural land use by up to 75%. Half of the world’s inhabitable land is reportedly used for farming, mostly for raising cows and other animals for the meat and dairy industries. According to researchers, if everyone went vegan, global farmland use could be reduced by the size of Australia, China, the EU, and the U.S. combined.

4. You’ll prevent 800 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. By some estimates, animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all of the world’s transportation systems combined.

5. You’ll spare the lives of large ocean animals. As many as 650,000 dolphins, whales, and seals as well as 40 million to 50 million sharks are killed every year by fishing.

Happy eating, and happy Easter!

To learn more about ways in which Christians can care for God’s creation, visit PETALambs.com. To get free vegan recipes, learn how to wear vegan, and find cruelty-free products, visit PETA’s Living section!