World Meatless Day falls on a Friday and what better way to celebrate than to abstain it for a day. Going meatless once a year is simply not enough so as an effort to improve the health or both the people and the planet, Meatless Monday was launched in as an international campaign in 2003 to take on a more earth-friendly diet.
The FAO report found that current production levels of meat contribute between 14 and 22 percent of the 36 billion tons of “CO2-equivalent” greenhouse gases the world produces every year. It turns out that producing half a pound of hamburger for someone’s lunch a patty of meat the size of two decks of cards releases as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere as driving a 3,000-pound car nearly 10 miles.
Not only is eating less meat good for our health it also saves the planet by reducing our carbon footprint. In 2009, United Nations released a report saying that livestock is responsible for almost one fifth of th global greenhouse gas emissions especially beef, lamb and pork.
Going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. While not all of us can go 100% vegetarian, you can start by having more veggies in your dish compared to meat.
For example, if you’re cooking spaghetti include more mixed veggies (peas, corn and carrot), mushrooms and zuchinni and only add a little mince meat for flavour.Alternatively you can make a mince out of mushrooms only! It’s important that you gradually reduce your meat intake otherwise you’ll get withdrawal symptoms and crave for them resulting in eating more meat again.
Try consuming white meat, eggs, milk or soy for your protein. Start with going meatless one meal a day, then one whole day without meat and subsequently three days a week without meat. In a worldwide study, most people are able to live up to 100 years of age when meat is used as side dish or condiment.
So let’s us all attempt to start Meatless Mondays starting with World Meatless Day this November 25! It’ll be good fun as you and your colleagues or family can get creative with awesome meat free meals. To our healths!
And Mother Nature!
