I remember the days when Meatless Mondays were a novelty, and fake meat was something we only saw in headlines or in super-upscale restaurants that dabbled in molecular cuisine. Those days are far behind us, and plant-based meat is very easy to find everywhere There’s no mystery behind it anymore, and it’s no longer a novelty. Now, plant-based meat is something that anyone can cook at home and substitute into their recipes.

For Earth Day this year, many international schools in Beijing will welcome plant-based meat companies like Zrou to take over their cafeterias and create a meatless, sustainable menu for their students. “We should be in about 30 schools by the summer, where [Zrou] will be served regularly in dining halls as part of a nationwide push for sustainability and new plant-based options,” says Shiyin Wang of Zrou.

A quick lesson on plant-based meats: Zrou makes their plant-based food from non-GMO soy, antioxidant-rich konjac, coconut oil to give it a healthy juicy flavor, and shiitake mushrooms and yeast for a natural, umami flavor.

In China, pork is the most consumed meat, and can be found in most Chinese recipes. Companies like Zrou make plant-based meat that requires 78% less water to produce than pork, and cuts carbon emissions by 96%. Putting that into perspective, replacing 1,000kg of pork with Zrou would be equivalent to planting 192 trees.

In anticipation of Earth Day, schools like the International School of Beijing (ISB), Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), Dulwich College Beijing (DCB), French International School of Beijing (LFIP), Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA), and Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA), among others, have dedicated days and even entire weeks to plant-based food. Take a look at some of the dishes that chefs have been able to create using Zrou. No longer are we limited to fancy, nibble-sized bites that can’t be recreated at home. Plenty of comfort foods can be created with Zrou!

This week is dedicated not only to bringing kids delicious and cool food but also to educating people on the benefits of adding plant-based meat to their diet.

As a meat lover, I don’t think I could ever give meat up completely. All of my go-to comfort foods are meaty. But if I can substitute plant-based meat in a few dishes, that’s a healthy start both for myself and for the environment.

I think that’s the message Zrou is sending to kids. You don’t need to go full vegan overnight. But making small changes can lead to a larger impact further down the road.

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Images: Courtesy of Zrou