An increasing number of U.S. veterans are choosing to switch to a plant-based diet, and each has his or her own reason. We believe that becoming vegan is an act of patriotism.

Eating plant-based helps improve health, which keeps our loved ones well, reduces reliance on the healthcare system and boosts our economy. Three great reasons to try!

It also helps us feed more people. Producing dairy, eggs and meat is a waste of resources, as it takes more calories to produce these products than what we receive by eating them. Animal products are also expensive, and with 13.4 percent of Americans living in poverty2 and 1.4 million U.S. veterans in households that use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),3 providing food for all is essential.

Patriots don’t bully those weaker than themselves or exploit the vulnerable. In feedlots, factory farms and slaughterhouses, billions of animals suffer needlessly. We can be the bigger person. When we go vegan, we ensure that our actions align with our morals, and that gives us reason to be proud.

Patriotism is about loving our country, and yet animal farming is responsible for mass pollution incidents of air, waterways and earth. It also contributes significantly to deforestation, species loss, ocean dead zones and the emission of climate-changing gases. By contrast, the production and consumption of plants is much kinder to our country.