Meat Free Monday
Back in May, we listed 5 reasons to go veggie. These included health, the environment and sustainable development.
One of the latest campaigns around vegetarianism and climate change, is “Meat free Monday“.
Supported by Paul McCartney and Richard Branson, Meat Free Monday is a food campaign to encourage the nation to help slow climate change by reducing their meat consumption by having at least one meat free day a week.
The UK’s Food Climate Research Network suggests that livestock production is responsible for around half of food production emissions. The more meat we produce and eat the larger our carbon footprint.
The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization says the livestock sector is ‘one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global’.
By choosing to have one meat free day a week you can help make a difference! Compassion in World Farming estimates that if the average UK household halved its consumption of meat this would cut more emissions than if car use was cut in half.
By making a simple change in the way you eat, you are taking part in a world changing campaign where what’s good for you is also good for the planet.
What about you – if you are a meat eater do you think you could adopt a meat free Monday in your household?
If you’re already vegetarian what were your reasons for giving up meat?
I think ‘Meat-free Monday’ is a great initiative and a very manageable step for people to take. My father-in-law has been doing ‘Meatless May’ for years: he doesn’t eat any meat during the month of May.
I am a vegetarian and was brought up vegetarian by my parents since the age of 3. Whilst it obviously wasn’t a personal choice for me back then, I have made the personal choice to continue being vegetarian for animal welfare and health reasons.
We gave up animal products about seven years ago. My husband wanted to do it for a long time but I wasn’t convinced that I could live without meat. Then I saw a program about all of the diseases associated with meat consumption. It was overwhelming … practically every disease known to man has some kind of a link to eating meat. So, I decided to give up meat for 30 days (I figured I could do anything for 30 days). We went “cold turkey” and tossed out or gave away anything containing animal products (we decided if we were going to do it, we might as well go vegan). Thirty days came and went and we’ve never gone back.
We find a vegan diet so much more interesting and fun … the flavors and combinations are endless. And we both feel great … in the old days we felt tired after a meal … now we are filled with energy.
Here’s an interesting fact:
“If 10,000 people replaced a beef meal with a vegetarian option just once a week for a year, we’d save enough water to fill roughly 605 Olympic-sized swimming pools” … Body + Soul Magazine, 2008
Isn’t that something?
Thank you for a wonderful post!
@Mummy Zen: Hi Mummy Zen; I like it too because it’s so simple to add to your everyday life. You can even disguise things if you live with meat eaters!
Meatless May sounds a great idea!
@Small Footprints: Hi Samll Footprints, thanks for leaving a comment. What an amazing story yours is!
I gave up eating pig products when I was 17 because I’d seen a story about pig farming. After that I thought, well, why not beef? And then it escalated until I gave it all up.
Recently though I started to add fish back in; I just felt like my body needed it and I do think it suits me.
I feel kinda bad about it, but figure feeling guilty is worse for me than any food I eat ….
I really hear you on the difference in energy – My hubby went all raw for months and felt amazing.
I love the concept of meat-free monday as it’s so easy for people to achieve. Plus there are so many delicious veggie recipes that there’s no excuse really to eat lots of meat. Here in brighton we have ‘fine food’ vegetarian restaurants which cook the most exquisite food, better than meat I say!
@Rachel: Hi Rachel, ahhhh, I have happy memories of days and nights in Brighton! The restaurants sound great; it’s good to see decent vegetarian food on the high street.
I’ve been working on the “meat-free” Mondays with my non-vegetarian friends for a few weeks now. I find that a lot of people are initially turned off by vegetarianism at first glance, finding it too difficult. After a few weeks of no meat on Mondays though… they gradually see how easy and healthy it can be!
Glad to see your blog is still up and running well… good information as always!
-Travis
@Travis: Hi Travis; great to hear how you are sharing about meat free Mondays. I think when I started as a vegetarian I simply substituted the meat for ‘fake’ products, but then you get into the fresh veggies and food tastes so good. It’s fabulous to see you inspiring people to make lifestyle changes 🙂