The Dish on “Meatless Monday”

The message is simple: “One day a week to cut out Meat.”

I’ve mentioned this movement before, along with a Basil Tempeh Pasta Mix and a meat-free lunch wrap. But, if you come dine here at DOTR often, you know that all meals are meatless. Fist pump for whole grains and produce! Monday just gets a tiara with vegetable jewels thanks to these “movers & shakers”.

Livestrong & Rodale (aka Runner’s World peeps) never disappoint!
Neither does Mario Batali, except when he wears Crocs.

Now, there are plenty of healthy meat/poultry options out there! I am not sticking a scarlet letter on your chest if those are regulars in your kitchen. To each their own! But, there’s something to be said for letting the cow roam and eating from the ground, at least once a week.

What’s the dish on Meatless Monday?

According to the historical timeline, “A Campaign becomes a Movement”, this can all be traced back to World War 1. Hebert Hoover was ahead of his time; “In November, 1917, New York City hotels saved some 116 tons of meat over the course of just one week.”

116 tons in ONE week.

Fast forward to 2003, when the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health’s Center for a Livable Future brought attention to the idea, again. Someone there must have noticed that these 21 century Americans love them some meat! So, they have a goal:

Reduce meat consumption by 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.

In Bart Yasso’s book, “My Life on the Run”, he comments that he went vegetarian at a young age because his girlfriend (at the time) told him this: it takes up to 30 pounds of feed to create ONE pound of meat.

That corn up there could be put to much better use! As could the gas used to transport meat all over the country, and the “1800 to 2500 gallons of water” that go into a “single pound of beef”.

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I don’t mean to preach, simply to spread the word! I do mean to make you hungry for health. Pick your favorite veggie/grain/fruit, and go from there! Easy, right?

I have a hard time picking favorites, no one likes to be left out:

And some days they ask for accessories:

Meatless Monday Salad & Roasted Reds

1/2 cup chickpeas, rinsed
Diced: tomatoes, cucumbers, purple onions, red peppers
Bed of lettuce: spinach, arugula & romaine
Roasted Red Potatoes*
Adorned with: Tuscan Italian Dressing (<1 tbsp), s/p, Organic Ketchup

*you’ll see these again soon, recipe to come!

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What’s the dish on Your meatless preferences? Recipes welcome!