Meatless Monday

My husband says “everything in moderation” as I have been talking about giving up meat.

This idea is hard for a family who raises our own pigs and barters chickens, lamb and beef for eggs, pork and time!

I have been heavily influenced by the China Study.  The study, initiated by T. Colin Campbell, conducted a 20-year project with Cornell University and the Chinese Academy of Preventative Medicine.

The China Study Findings & Conclusion

"People who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease...  People who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease.”

I am slowly eliminating animal protein from my diet. I just can’t seem to give up fresh raw milk in my tea and last night I had the most delicious piece of pork, but I have cut back significantly, and at least 50% of our meals are now meatless.

So, for now I am joining the national movement of Meatless Monday.  Also, I recently read that Oprah invited her entire staff to give up meat for a week - The Vegan Challenge.

Imagine if communities around the country took up this challenge and then continued to give up meat once per week?!

I am inviting not only our slow food community, but also our schools and larger community to give up meat every Monday.  The Meatless Monday campaign is not new -

“The campaign for Meatless Monday got underway when Sid Lerner, the "ad man" who put "Don't Squeeze the Charmin" on our TV screens, joined forces with John Hopkins School of Public Health.  The idea is not revolutionary; it is rooted in WWI rationing efforts and public participation in the "Meat-less Monday" and "Wheat-less Wednesday".  What has changed is our interest in going meatless one day a week, and there are many reasons that influence the choice.”

We all know that eating a variety of grains, fresh fruits and vegetables is good for our bodies. We are further contributing to a sustainable environment and reducing our carbon footprint by going meatless one day of week.  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.  Limiting meat consumption once a week can help

A recent United Nations report concluded that a global shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change. Senior U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization official Henning Steinfeld reported that the meat industry is "one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems."

Raising animals for food requires massive amounts of land, food, energy, and water and contributes to animal suffering.

So join me in going Meatless one day a week or more!   I will be posting a vegetarian main dish recipe every week - this week is Sweet Potato Skins, Greens & Garlic.