Going Greener and Healthier with Meatless Mondays

Every now and then I have heard about Meatless Mondays, but as a dedicated (yet compassionate and mostly organic) carnivore, the idea never really appealed to me until now. For some reason, I woke up yesterday morning with "Meatless Monday" on my brain.

What would be the benefit? I already had a vague inkling that eating less meat was considered healthier for people and for the planet, but further research was in order. Visiting the official Meatless Monday website, I learned that this non-profit organization works in association with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with the goal of helping Americans reduce their consumption of saturated fat by 15% by 2010.

"Diets high in saturated fat, found mainly in meat and high-fat dairy products, increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. What's more, a high-fat diet may increase the risk of certain types of cancer. These 'lifestyle diseases' are killing Americans and in 80-90% of cases, deaths are preventable."

So cutting down on meat is good for my heart and my health in general...what about the environment?

According to GoVeg.com, becoming vegetarian may help reverse climate change, reduce pollution and save natural resources like land and water.

"Many leading environmental organizations, such as the National Audubon Society and the Sierra Club, are now establishing the link between eating meat and eco-disasters like climate change. According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads."

For an idea of the sheer numbers involved, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says that in 2007, the U.S. produced 48.7 billion pounds of commercial red meat, 90.6 billion eggs and 8.1 billion chickens. That's a lot of meat.

Other environmental factors include the devastation of the world's remaining valuable rainforest, as trees are cleared acres at a time for cattle grazing in tropical countries. And of course, the often unbearable conditions that livestock in factory farms must needlessly endure.

This is all pretty convincing. Although I am not about to become a complete vegetarian for a number of personal reasons, I am quite willing to reduce my consumption of meat and poultry, going without at least one day per week...and maybe even more as time goes on.

So, as of yesterday, I am avoiding red meat through the end of the year on Mondays, then progressing to a full-vegetarian Monday menu in January. Will you join me?

If any of our readers already total or partial vegetarians, I would love to hear about your reasons for going veg and how your health changed as a result. Please comment!

~ Teri Breier  www.quintessencecreative.com 
Click here for more of Teri's posts.

Comments

[Tess Marshall]

I quit eating meat when I was 27 years old. At the same time I started running and am currently training for a half marathon.

I had a bone scan a few months ago and the doctor says I have the hips of a 30 year old.

I am my high school weight and don't worry about diets!
Thats what it has done for me!

[Teri Breier]

Wow, Dawn, you're gorgeous, tres fashionable AND a vegetarian to boot??? I am now even more impressed with you in return! :) I have many friends and extended family members who are vegetarian, which I have always admired, and would love to hear the reasons for your choice.

But as Jan points out (thanks, J!) I definitely have one of those body types that thrives on protein...and the thought of making up for that with tofu and nuts just doesn't appeal to my body's inner wisdom.

Thanks to both of you for your Meatless Monday encouragement.

[Jan]

Hi Teri, Another interesting post for sure. After 20 years in health care I have found a person's body and blood type have a lot to do with how much meat they eat. The popular "blood type" diet books propose that certain blood types require and do better on more red meat while others do better
as almost vegetarians. I myself am a type "A" which is leaning more toward the veretarian. I eat red meat maybe once a week and very little at that.

So I have no problem going meatless, but other people might find it a little more of a stretch!

rock on sister!
Jan

[Dawn]

Teri, my dear fellow blogger, I knew you were wonderful but now I think you are absolutely fabulous. I have been a veggie for 23 years now and though I would never "push" my opinions or choices on anyone, I am thrilled that you are taking such a positive step both for yourself and the environment. Meatless Mondays are marvelous!

All my best,
Dawn