Meatless Mondays: Good for You & the Environment

February 20, 2017 |

#MeatlessMonday is more than just a hashtag, it’s a movement. This movement has one main purpose: protect our precious earth. If you think that meatless Monday won’t affect you, that it’s just another environmental stunt, you’d be wrong!

Three things are majorly benefitted by pledging Meatless Mondays:

Your wallet
The environment
Your health

Now, we’re not asking you to all of a sudden quit cold turkey, (and warm turkey, etc.) even though that would be awesome, we’re asking that you take one day as a step in the right direction.

Why go meatless, you ask? Here’s what our Executive Director, Erin Huber, has to say:

“Going meatless for a meal, a day, or even a lifetime has an enormous impact on water and the environment. Besides kicking the bottled water habit, it is the easiest way to make the largest impact one person can have on the environment.”

1. Your Wallet

A study conducted by Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition suggests you can save at least $750 a year with a veggie based diet.

“Each year in the United States, chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes cause 7 in 10 deaths, and account for 75% of the $2 trillion spent on medical care.” (MeatlessMonday.com)

2. The Environment

Our friends at Vegan Street shared this shocking thought:

“If you switch out one hamburger each week for something vegan, you’ll save more water than all these tips put together.”

Pound for pound:

Approximately 1,850 gallons of water are needed to produce a single pound of beef.
Approximately 39 gallons of water are needed to produce a pound of vegetables.

3. Your Health

MeatlessMonday.com spells out 6 reasons why you need #MeatlessMonday in your life:

Reduce heart disease and stroke
Limit cancer risk
Fight diabetes
Curb obesity
Live longer
Improve the nutritional quality of your diet

That sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? It’s a no brainer.

Ready to Pledge?

One small day a week can make a large, lasting impact. The best news, you’re not alone. Here are our favorite resources for #MeatlessMonday!

For fun, delicious, hearty recipes: Hold the Pigskin

Eating around #CLE? Check out Adam Rosen’s piece in Cleveland Scene Magazine: Eating Vegan in Northeast Ohio Has Never Been Easier or More Scrumptious