Meatless Monday isn’t just a menu planning suggestion to not meat one day a week, it is a worldwide movement. The Meatless Mondays initiative started in 2003 by the Monday Campaigns and a collaboration with the Center for a Livable Future (CLF) at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The goal of the campaign is to reduce meat consumption by 15% for personal health and the health of the planet.
Italian White Bean Stew
Most Americans eat more than one and a half times the amount of protein they need based on USDA recommendations. Research shows that eating less red or processed meats and eating more vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds can improve heart health, reduce the likelihood of getting diabetes, and help to maintain a healthy weight.
Pumpkin Kidney Bean Chili
The health of the planet is also improved by pledging to eat less meat. The reduction of meat consumption can help to contain the production of greenhouse gases that impact climate change and lessen the demand for resources such as land, water, and energy. According to the CLF, it has been determined that the production of one quarter-pound beef burger uses enough energy to power an iPhone for 6 months.
Why Meatless Monday and not Wednesday or Friday? Studies have shown Mondays are the best day of the week to start a new healthy habit as people are more likely to sustain it through the rest of the week and be successful at whatever change they are trying to make.
One issue many people have with switching from meat-based meals to plant-based meals is cooking with vegetables usually requires more time and more prep-work. Using Suvie to help cook your meatless meals will cut down on the time you spend in the kitchen and help you create delicious vegetarian or vegan meals. Check out more of the new meatless recipes from the Suvie blog below: