Together at the Table: Meatless Mondays!

by Meredith Paterson

This series of Saturday posts are all about making OHMazing™, mindful choices each time we sit down to eat. One way to raise awareness about what we eat and where it comes from is to start Meatless Mondays with your family.

The history of Meatless Mondays from the Meatless Monday website:

"Presidents Wilson, Truman and Roosevelt galvanized the nation with voluntary meatless days during both world wars. Our intention is to revitalize this American tradition. We’re spearheading a broad-based, grassroots movement that spans all borders and demographic groups. By cutting out meat once a week, we can improve our health, reduce our carbon footprint and lead the world in the race to reduce climate change."

Going meatless for just one day a week has so many benefits.

1. Environmental Impact. Commercially-raised, grain-fed meat requires a lot of fossil fuels. The grains that the animals eat are grown with petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides. "The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide . . . far more than transportation." (meatlessmonday.com)
2. Health. Going meatless for one day per week will reduce your intake of saturated fat and give your digestive system an opportunity to rest. More health benefits
3. Cost savings. Going meatless for one day per week saves money. As a family, decide on a way to spend the money you save from not eating meat on Mondays. Choose a charity to donate the money to, or save the money in a jar to use on the next family trip.
4. Awareness. When you and family are making conscious decisions about what to cook and eat together, you are connecting to your food as a source of nourishment. Meatless Mondays are a great opportunity to talk about where our food comes from and what its real costs are.
5. Creativity. Instead of seeing Meatless Mondays as limitations, you can view this practice as an opportunity to be creative and try new things. For example, instead of simply substituting a tofu dog for a hot dog (they're usually highly processed and have little nutritional value), why not try a veggie dish that you've never had before? This is the perfect time for a veggie lasagna or Eggplant Parmesan. Choose the dish as a family and prepare it together.

On the Meatless Mondays website, check out the many companies and celebrities who have embraced going meatless for one day per week. They also provide great resources for educators to use in schools and for families to use at home to start the conversation.

Hundreds on food bloggers have joined with the cause and post meatless recipes on Mondays. These blogs are wonderful resources for new recipe ideas. I know I'll be searching through them for the perfect Monday dinner recipe.


Share your favorite veggie recipes below and let's try them together!