Why Meatless Monday Is Important To Me
Three years ago I became a vegetarian.
Not because of my love for animals. Not because it was trendy.
It was because of pure happenstance…or laziness.
I was living in Tel Aviv, Israel at the time meat slowly d i s a p p e a r e d from my life. As a busy student, shopping for raw meat to cook was not high on my list of priorities. My diet began to rely on simple, nutritious, and healthful combinations of protein, carbs, and fat — eggs for dinner, a veggie stir-fry made from mostly frozen vegetables and beans, hearty grains, like quinoa, in a salad at lunch, and fruit and veggies as snacks…
Over time I became educated about my all-for-convenience vegetarian diet. Once I learned about the health benefits, and saw how much better I felt about myself AND how my body felt about me, adopting a completely vegetarian diet was easy.
When I first heard about the Meatless Monday campaign, I knew it was going somewhere. The spotlight on America’s obesity epidemic was (and still is) consistently getting larger, so it was only time before superstars and super chefs like Mario Batali and Oprah jumped on board this campaign that’s one step in the right direction!
Unlike the Standard American Diet (SAD…great acronym!), which consists of fatty fast food with an overemphasis on protein and refined carbs, mostly in the form of sugar, Meatless Monday puts the priority on produce, and eliminates the emphasis on meat (hence the name!).
As a Meatless Monday Blogger on Board and a nutrition graduate student, I firmly believe that any minor dietary adjustment that provides a plethora of benefits (for you and others) is a winner!
So finally, here’s why Meatless Monday is so important to me:
It isn’t new. “Meatless Monday” was first created during World War I to “reduce consumption of key staples to aid the war effort.” Then during World War II, President FDR reinstated this concept to help the home front. In 2003, efforts from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public health helped revive this movement, but this time as a public health crusade to address the health status of Americans.
Plant power! Plant-based foods are the most nutrient-dense and helpful in our bodies. Fruits & vegetables fight inflammation, ward off cancer, and have even been shown to ease arthritis! But scientists are still discovering the phytochemicals in these nutritional powerhouses…for now, we know the more plant foods we consume, the better!
Celebrate the Earth. Pollution, landfills, and oil spills are infiltrating our planet. Meat production consumes tons of energy and gallons upon gallons of water. Abstaining from meat just one day weekly saves water, reduces your carbon emissions, and prevents global warming. If you can individually have such an impact, imagine what we can do together! Let’s preserve our natural wonders of the world:
Prevent chronic disease. America is plagued with diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer, as well as various autoimmune diseases. Some of these conditions are associated with poor nutrition (most commonly in the form of excessive fat and sugar consumption). Our cells require proper nutrition to prevent these debilitating diseases. Stop pretending to thrive on these bad habits and make at least one small change for yourself by participating in Meatless Monday!
Control your weight. Unless you’re a junk-e-tarian, consuming mostly plant-based foods once a week (although I hope it’s more!) will help you slim down without much afterthought. Win-win in my book!
Get in touch with your taste buds. There’s no secret that I love cooking, and especially experimenting with new ways to use my favorite foods. Take the time to explore the real flavor of fruits and vegetables by using them in a non-conventional way. Roast grapes to add to your stir fry or add butternut squash to a lasagna.
Eating more plant-based foods will expand your foodie horizons!
Create a new habit. Habit formation is a complex neurological process that involves environmental cues, brain signals, and repetition. Constructing a new habit increases your brain plasticity, which will help your brain stay young. Additionally, new habits may increase your willpower to get in control of a situation!
Increase longevity. Did you know that 4 out of the top 5 causes of death are nutrition-related? Studies have shown that vegetarians out-live their carnivorous counterparts, so cutting back on your meat consumption, even by 1/7th can help you live a longer, more prosperous life!
If you haven’t jumped on board, find out why you should join the movement here!
And don’t think I forgot about St. Patrick’s Day! If you’re looking for some GREEN recipes, try my Green Smoothie & Lean Green Zucchini Noodle Bowl!
Check back later in the week as I recap my trip to Washington D.C.! XO
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