We’ve all heard of different diets to put you on track to eating healthier, but many can be counterproductive to achieving your goals and often fail. Meatless Mondays are a different approach to dieting. In fact, the global movement doesn’t even promise fat loss. Instead, the message behind this campaign is to encourage people to cut out meat one day a week.
Personal Health
Through reducing meat consumption, we can improve our personal health and the health of the planet. This simple act can increase your veggie servings and help encourage healthy eating. If you eliminate red and processed meat once a week, you’ll get a taste of what a plant-based diet looks and feels like. There’s really nothing to lose since it’s likely you will increase your intake of whole plant foods like beans, whole grains, nuts, seed, vegetables, and fruits during your meatless day. And, for those who are worried about protein, don’t worry! Protein is found in plants too!
Plenty of Options
When you’re in the grocery store, you may notice that Meatless Mondays is continuing to catch on. Meat-free protein alternatives are becoming more mainstream alongside tofu and seitan. I frequently see new creations highlighting nuts, seeds, beans, and soy as well. There are many options for creating your meatless meals, snacks included!
Sample Menu
If you’re interested but stumped on how to start, I’ve included a sample menu of different dishes for your Meatless Mondays.
Breakfast
- Oatmeal with fresh fruit (bananas, apples, or figs) and nuts
- Veggie scramble with herb potatoes
- Pancakes or waffles topped with a triple berry medley of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries
Lunch
- Mixed greens salad with feta, walnuts, and cranberries
- Quinoa bowl with black beans, sweet potato, and kale
- Roasted vegetable medley of carrots, potato, and zucchini with wild rice
Dinner
- Stuffed bell peppers with quinoa, tomatoes, and beans
- Fajitas with portabella mushroom, peppers, and onions
- White bean and kale soup with seasonal vegetables
Remember: Meatless Mondays are catchy, but feel free to pick any day that works for you!
For more information and recipes, visit meatlessmonday.com.
