The water we use every day doesn’t just come out of our faucets or sprinklers. It’s also integral to our food systems. Because some foods are more water-intensive than others, “your diet can greatly affect your water footprint,” explains Ric Miles. In general, plant-based foods require far less water than animal-based foods. Research conducted by UC Davis found that a single pound of beef uses anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000 gallons of water, mostly used in the growing of grain and grass fed to the animals (via UCLA). Likewise, a gallon of cow’s milk uses nearly 2000 gallons of water. Compare that to a pound of tofu, which only requires around 300 gallons of water — about the same amount of water used to grow a pound of unprocessed oats.
But lest you think all plant-based foods are created equal, consider the case of nuts. Miles points out that “it takes about the same amount of water to grow a pound of almonds” as it does a pound of beef. Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are some of the most water-intensive crops in farming, with shelled almonds needing about 80 gallons of water per ounce produced, while pistachios require far less, though still a considerable 19 gallons per ounce (per the National Peanut Board). Still, there’s a strong water conservation argument for cutting out or at least reducing animal products in your diet. “There are a lot of actions consumers can take to reduce their water footprint,” notes Miles, and examining what you eat is part of that process.
