This April 22 marks the 45th anniversary of Earth Day, which aims empower individuals to take meaningful actions in their everyday lives that collectively contribute to the preservation of our planet.

As the founder of Earth Day, late Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, explained: “Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures.”

That’s why Earth Day offers the perfect opportunity to empower others to explore one of the most effective ways each one of us can help protect the environment and all the other animals with whom we share this planet: making greener food choices.

In a nutshell, recent major news headlines say it all:

And even the 2015 US Dietary Guidelines advisory committee is strongly recommending Americans eat less meat suggesting that a diet higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal-based foods is “more health promoting and is associated with lesser environmental impact than is the current average US diet.”

Thankfully, vegan options are sprouting up everywhere – from Chipotle to Subway to White Castle and everywhere in between – making it easier than ever to choose compassion and sustainability. Even Girl Scout cookies now offer several vegan options.

Choosing vegan foods also means you’ll be in good company. Millions of Americans are touting the benefits of plant-based eating, including US Senator Cory Booker, Ellen DeGeneres, and former vice-president Al Gore.

Visit TryVeg.com today, and together we can build a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow.