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Food Energy Pyramid

Another way to help provide some balance in the overall food system comes from the model of the food energy pyramid.

At the top of the pyramid it takes an immense amount of energy and resources to raise enough beef for a family to eat for one year when we consider the fuel and oil used for the tractor, the electricity used to heat and light the barns, the amount of water that the cow consumes, the wheat to feed the cow, and so on.

When we shift down the pyramid and eat from closer to the base (i.e. a vegetable only diet) then there is theoretically more “food energy” available for everyone.

So, we could increase the amount of food for the entire population by moving down the food pyramid which, in turn, means eating a more vegetable-based diet.

THE FOOD PYRAMID
This pyramid illustrates that there is more food energy available in the ecosystem at the bottom of the pyramid.

As we move upwards, food energy decreases. Therefore, a family that relies on eating beef or a lot of other meat ends up using more energy and resources to raise the meat; than if they rely strictly on eating vegetables themselves.