Meatless Monday Benefits, Recipes, And Ideas

Are you wondering why Meatless Monday is good? The Meatless Monday benefits are many and they include a healthier environment and quite possibly, a healthier you! In this article, I will tell you all about what the Meatless Monday movement is, why it got started, and the impact it makes. Some of these Meatless Monday facts will surprise you! I will also share my most popular ideas for Meatless Monday recipes. From vegan dishes to vegetarian meals, there are so many different meat-free meals you can enjoy.

What Is Meatless Monday?

First, I will fill you in on what Meatless Monday is. For those of you, hearing the term for the first time. Here is a simple definition. Meatless Monday is the movement to reduce meat consumption by committing to eating meat-free at least one day a week. Don’t worry. I have many more Meatless Monday facts and ideas for those of you wanting a deeper explanation. First we will start with where it comes from and when it came along.

If you are interested in the history of Meatless Monday, the idea first came into common play in 1917 when the President asked the nation to do voluntary meatless days as a way to ration our supplies and support efforts during World War I. The term first began to come back into popularity in 2003. It was used at a health conference discussing what could be done to improve the nation’s health. Then it had its breakthrough moment in 2009. This was when best-selling author and food advocate Michael Pollan endorsed Meatless Monday during the Oprah Winfrey show. This is when millions of viewers were introduced to the concept of cutting meat consumption once a week.

Why participate in Meatless Monday?

The answer to why Meatless Monday is two fold. Choosing to reduce your meat consumption by adopting Meatless Monday is a healthy choice. It is also a great way to impact the health of the environment in a positive way. Implementing a “Meatless Monday” can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. These two basic benefits of Meatless Monday are so huge. I truly believe everyone will be excited to join the Meatless Monday movement, especially when they learn just how beneficial it is!

Benefits of Meatless Monday

Meatless Monday Health Benefits

Why should you try Meatless Monday? The first answer is that Meatless Monday is a healthier choice for you. In 2003, at the health conference I mentioned above, Robert Lawrence, Dean of Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, suggested one simple change. Just one change could improve the nation’s health, “If we eat 15% less meat, we’d be a lot healthier.”

Just think about it. One easy choice that could improve the whole nation’s health- you gotta love that! And on top of that, it will probably save most people money. This is because meat is usually more expensive than other proteins sources like beans, tofu, or lentils.

Less Disease

Most Americans die from non-communicable diseases such as heart, stroke, obesity, and diabetes. These are largely diseases brought on by lifestyle choices. As the Mayo Clinic says, “people who don’t eat meat — vegetarians — generally eat fewer calories and less fat, weigh less, and have a lower risk of heart disease than nonvegetarians do. Even reducing meat intake has a protective effect. Research shows that people who eat red meat are at an increased risk of death from heart disease, stroke or diabetes. Processed meats also increase the risk of death from these diseases. And what you don’t eat can also harm your health. Diets low in nuts, seeds, seafood, fruits and vegetables also increase the risk of death.”

Better Overall Heath

In other words, you can make choices to impact your health. But you knew that already! Meatless Monday is a global movement and health campaign with a simple motto. For one day a week, cut out the meat. This simple action can improve your health! I hope you feel empowered because knowledge is half the battle. Meatless Monday benefits your health. You can do this for your personal health! Of course, it doesn’t really matter that you do it on Monday. However, choosing a consistent day just makes it an easy weekly habit that you won’t forget. Furthermore, we all know that healthy habits are the best kind and the key to results!

Meatless Monday Environmental Benefits

Some of you may have heard that choosing a plant based diet is actually a great way to go green.  I found this rather surprising at first. However, there are actually several ways that leaving meat out of your diet is beneficial to the environment. 

How does Meatless Monday help the environment?

Leaving meat out of your diet or reducing your meat consumption reduces your carbon footprint.  Yes, but by how much, really? That is what I wanted to know and I was surprised to find by quite a lot actually!  According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, farmed animals produce more greenhouse gas emissions (18 percent) than the world’s entire transportation system (13.5 percent). Wow! Nitrous oxide and methane are also huge contributors to global warming. According to the FAO, livestock is responsible for as much as 37 percent of anthropogenic methane and 65 percent of anthropogenic nitrous oxide.  To put this into perspective, nitrous oxide is almost 300 times as damaging to the climate as carbon dioxide.

Meat consumption also effects land use.  Livestock production leads to deforestation to create pastures. In fact, it is responsible for 70% of the Amazon deforestation in Latin America.  Not only does deforestation contribute to releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide but it also reduces biodiversity and the quality of the land. Livestock activity on grazing lands can lead to compaction and soil erosion.

Meatless Monday can also help the environment through improved water quality and availability. Livestock production negatively impacts the world water supply.  Meat production, especially the feeding of cattle, is a particularly water-intensive process.  Besides being in direct competition for clean water itself, livestock production also contributes to water pollution.  Water is becoming a more scarce resource. The FAO estimated that by 2025 there will be 1.8 billion people living with absolute water scarcity and two thirds of the world’s population could be living under water-stressed conditions.

Clean water is polluted with animal wastes, antibiotics, hormones, and the fertilizers and pesticides used for feed crops. In a 2005 report, the Natural Resources Defense Council noted that pollutants from animal waste have contributed to a “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico where there is not enough oxygen to support aquatic life. Additionally livestock production is responsible for two-thirds of anthropogenic ammonia which contributes significantly to acid rain. 

Wow. I was skeptical at first but clearly reducing meat consumption does have a huge impact on the environment! I hope you found this information as eye opening as I did that Meatless Monday benefits the environment in a big way.

Does Meatless Monday Include Seafood Or Fish?

For those of you thinking of turning to seafood, it is also not without its own adverse impact.  Industrial fishing practices such as bottom trawling are destroying fragile eco-systems and wiping out whole populations of sea creatures.  If you think that overfishing can be solved by fish farming, think again. Fish farming still places a strain on ocean stocks because wild caught fish are often used to raise the farm fish.  For example, the Worldwatch Institute says that it takes five tons of wild-caught fish to feed each ton of farmed salmon.

Plant Based Diets Are More Environmentally Efficient

Choosing a plant based diet has such a dramatically lower impact on the environment because the food is directly consumed rather than needing to be converted into meat at an inefficient rate.  In a 2000 issue of Ecological Economics, Thomas White says that cattle require approximately seven kilos of grain in order to generate one kilo of beef and pigs require four kilos of grain for one kilo of pork.  

As you decide to try a few meatless meals a week, consider that going organic vegan has the least environmental impact. It is also important to know that beef is the meat that has the highest impact.  Here is another convincing statistic provided by the FAO. With one hectare of land, a farmer can feed up to 30 people people on a vegan diet throughout the year. Comparatively, only 5-10 people if the same area is used for the production of eggs, milk and/or meat. 

Ideas For Mondays Without Meat

With these facts in mind, as well as the demand for meat growing with the growing population, you may want to consider adding a few meatless meals to your diet and reducing your environmental impact. By skipping meat once a week, an individual can lower their carbon footprint. A study by Environmental Research Letters found that a vegetarian diet can reduce individual carbon footprints by 20-30%. If you decide to go vegan as a lifestyle choice (instead of on just Mondays), I suggest doing a little research to make sure you get a balanced diet. It does take some adjustment if you are not used to it.   

If you are not ready to give up meat, don’t worry; you can just commit to adding a meatless day or two to your diet each week- like Meatless Monday! As you experiment with new recipes you may find that giving up meat can be tastier than you thought! On that note, I’d like to share a few Meatless Monday ideas with you below.

Meatless Monday Recipes:

There are endless Meatless Monday recipes because it is really any meal without meat! However, here are few delicious ideas for Meatless Monday to get you started! Enjoy this healthy change and once a week substitute vegetarian dinners. With this small change we call the whole family can reduce their consumption of meat and make a big difference.

Veggie Lo Mein

Vegan Sliders: Recipe For Portobello Sliders With Caramelized Onions

Black Bean Vegan Burgers

Vegan Green Onion Grits

Vegan Stuffed Peppers

Delicious Chickpea Flatbread

Sweet Potato Quinoa Vegan Taco Recipe

Pepper and Bean Salad

Black Bean Quinoa And Mango Bowl

Vegan Blackberry Pie

Besides trying new Meatless Monday recipes like those listed above, implement these practical tips for Meatless Monday:

1. Plan Your Meals:
   • Incorporate a variety of plant-based proteins such as beans, lentils, tofu, and nuts.
   • Explore meat alternatives like veggie burgers or plant-based sausages.
2. Use Seasonal and Local Produce:
   • Opt for seasonal and locally-sourced vegetables and fruits to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation.

Meatless Monday Facts & Statistics

Does Meatless Monday make a difference? Yes, absolutely. In case there is any doubt in your mind that Meat-Free Monday is an amazing idea that everyone should adopt, consider this:

According to Mathematics For Sustainability, “A Meatless Monday advocate saves about 1,915 pounds of CO2e per year compared to a typical American. Almost 1 ton of CO2e!”

According to NorthShore University HealthSystem, “There have been studies that show consuming a lot of red meat can increase your chances for colorectal cancer. Even if you do not eat a lot of red meat, a diet rich in vegetables can decrease the risk for cancer as they are full of antioxidants and other nutrients.”

Try Meatless Monday Yourself!

Meatless Monday can improve our health. Meatless Monday can reduce your carbon footprint. Furthermore, Meatless Monday can help the world in the race to reduce climate change. I hope you try these ideas for Meatless Monday and spread the word. We can all make a small change and have a huge impact on the health of the planet! Plus, it is a healthier lifestyle!

Remember the simple idea of Meatless Mondays: On the first day of each week, reduce your meat consumption with vegan or vegetarian options to have a positive impact on your health and the environment.

Have you decided to try Meatless Mondays yet? Challenge yourself to try it for a month. I bet you will love it and keep doing it!  What are some of your favorite Meatless dinner ideas?

Related Posts:

Mediterranean Vegan Charcuterie Board

Homemade Vegan Gyros

Sweet Potato Couscous Burgers- Meatless Monday Recipe