Meatless Monday
This week we’re starting a new tradition in our house – Meatless Monday. Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative of The Monday Campaigns, launched in 2003, in association with the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. The concept of Meatless Monday dates back Presidents Wilson, Truman and Roosevelt, who encouraged Americans to participate in voluntary meatless days during both world wars. This program, cutting out meat once a week, is active in 21 countries and continues to catch on and grow. Meatless Monday participation is also spreading through local school systems, restaurants, and hospitals. Why not encourage your school or office to join the movement?
Why should we cut out meat? When we eliminate meat from our diets just once a week, we can improve our own health and the health of the planet. An article published in Scientific American Magazine states that “according to a 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), our diets and, specifically, the meat in them cause more greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, and the like to spew into the atmosphere than either transportation or industry… It turns out that producing half a pound of hamburger … releases as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere as driving a 3,000-pound car nearly 10 miles.” Compared to potatoes, for example, pound for pound, beef production generates 57 times as much greenhouse gases to global warming.
Mondays are a great place to begin because for most of us it is the beginning of a school week or work week. Why not set an intention early on to start the week off with mindfulness through conscious consumption; in this case, going veggie for a day. Even hardcore carnivores are joining the movement. It’s a way to rally the family or friends to do something positive together. Have fun planning out menus or hosting potluck dinners (dinners seem to be the most challenging for those accustomed to eating meat on a daily basis). Check out wwwl.meatlessmonday.com for great recipe ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks! They have made it simple and fun to navigate through Meatless Monday. And better yet, browse our website for more delicious recipes. Some of our favorites for meatless Monday are Ratatouille, Sunny Burgers, and Black Bean and Corn Salad.
August 22, 2011
by Optimum WellnessComments
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