Have you ever thought about becoming a vegetarian? Maybe you entertained the thought for about a minute but then decided that lifestyle just wasn’t for you. Don’t give up on that idea just yet. There is an international movement that encourages you to go meatless at least one day every week. It is called Meatless Monday! So maybe you can not give up meat for good, but passing on the meat only one day a week seems a little more manageable, right? By reducing meat consumption, just one day a week, you are on your way to making small strides in improving your personal health as well as the health of your planet.
So, now you are probably asking, why goes meatless on Mondays? How is that better for me or my environment and why on Mondays? Why not go meatless on Wednesdays or Saturdays? There is a reason behind the madness and there are lots of benefits to going meatless every Monday. Here are just a few:
- Reduce your risk for cancer by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption which is associated with a decreased risk for cancer
- Reduce heart disease by decreasing saturated fat intake and increasing polyunsaturated fat (vegetable oil, nuts and seeds) intake
- Reduce your risk for diabetes by lowering your consumption of red and processed meats
- Prevent obesity - people who consume low meat and vegetarian diets have a significantly lower body weight and BMI
- Promote an overall improvement in your diet!!
- Reduce your carbon footprint and save resources like water and fossil fuel
Multiple studies have shown that periodic health prompts lead to positive behavior change. Monday is the beginning of the week, making it the perfect time to reevaluate your choices and set your intentions for the coming days. Meatless Monday is a scheduled, recurring reminder to start your week off on a nutritious note. If this Monday passes you by, next week is another opportunity to focus on health! You know the saying “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!”
Every Monday, ECU Campus Dining challenges you to give it a try AND succeed!
There are many delicious vegetarian options available in all of our dining locations to help you meet this challenge. Look for the Meatless Monday signs throughout our dining locations to help you identify those meatless features. Check out the ECU Campus Dining Facebook page for meat free recipes, helpful meatless cooking demos and other relevant nutrition and health news. On Monday, September 12, join Todd and West End Dining Halls for a Meatless Monday Dinner! You can do it, march to a different drumstick and GO MEATLESS!
For more information on Meatless Monday, visit: www.meatlessmonday.com
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