Monday is the beginning of the week, making it the perfect time to reevaluate our choices and set our intentions for the coming days. With a Meatless Monday, you have a scheduled, recurring reminder to start your week off on a nutritious note. Simply cut out meat once a week and discover all of the delicious, nutritious vegetarian options out there. You will be surprised at the huge benefits this has for your health, your wallet and the environment.
On average, Americans consume 8 ounces of meat per day – 45% more than the USDA recommends. Going meatless once a week can reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help limit your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel. This is also a great way to cut the weekly budget, as food prices continue to rise, especially packaged items and meat.
Although most vegetarian protein sources provide only some of the essential amino acids, it isn’t necessary to combine foods to create “complete proteins.” Dr. Marion Nestle, renowned food expert and professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, agrees that a proper nutritional balance can be easily obtained through plant-based meals. Eliminating meat doesn’t automatically make your diet healthier. It is still important to eat the right balance of healthy foods and to limit your intake of unhealthy foods. People who eat less meat tend to have lower body weight. But it all comes down to managing your calorie intake – please follow the FDA’s guidelines.
So opt for soup and sandwiches or a meatless pasta dish today. Make tonight’s dinner the start of a fun, easy and delicious ritual with your family and create those healthy habits that last a lifetime. Visit http://www.mywildtree.com/debbiec/ for some great meatless recipes!
Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative of The Monday Campaigns, in association with the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. They provide the information and recipes you need to start each week with healthy, environmentally friendly meat-free alternatives. Their goal is to help you reduce your meat consumption by 15% in order to improve your personal health and the health of the planet.
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