It seems the program first originated during the First World War when Americans were encouraged by the US Food and Drug Administration to reduce their consumption of key staples to help the war effort.
According to Wikipedia: “Conserving food would support U.S. troops as well as feed populations in Europe where food production and distribution had been disrupted by war. To encourage voluntary rationing, the FDA created the slogan “Food Will Win the War” and coined the terms "Meatless Monday" and "Wheatless Wednesday” to remind Americans to reduce intake of these products.”
During the Second World War the campaign returned, calling on women on the home front to play a role in supporting the war effort where meat was once again rationed, along with other commodities like gasoline and sugar.
Fast forward to 2003, where Meatless Monday was restarted as a public health awareness program, and by 2009 Meatless Monday was gaining popularity with such celebrities as Paul McCartney who launched his own Meat-free Monday campaign online.
Since then, many others have joined the Meatless Monday movement and it’s catching on in many countries around the globe as well.
Touted as being beneficial for the health of the planet, as well as the health of humans, why have only one meatless day each week? Think about it.
If it’s all about healthy, sustainable eating, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and doing what we can to slow down global warming, doesn’t it make sense to have more than one day each week meat free?
Considering it is a well known fact that eating meat is not good for our health or the health of our planet (not to mention the thousands upon thousands of animals living in crowded and inhumane conditions waiting to be slaughtered each and every day), you would think there would be more emphasis on ways to decrease meat production.
I mean, if researchers and health professional already know that reducing meat consumption (especially red, grilled, and processed meats) can drastically reduce incidences of various cancers such as colon and prostate cancer, then doesn’t it make sense to cut these foods out of our diet more than just once a week? And it’s not just colon and prostate cancer either that meat consumption is linked to. There are many other health conditions researchers are discovering that are directly related to the consumption of meat.
Animal agriculture is big business and it’s literally killing us, and our planet. Animal agriculture demands huge amounts of fresh water, is the biggest polluter of our water systems, is destroying the earth’s rainforests, is causing desertification, is increasing global warming, and consuming the earth’s resources. If you’d like to learn more about the impact animal agriculture is having on our planet, you can read my insightful article on my blog site entitled To Meat Or Not To Meat…That Is The Question. My article describes the harmful effects eating meat is doing to our health, as well as the health of the planet, and also provides suggestions for meat alternatives. So here’s my suggestion for going meatless.
Instead of having a Meatless Monday, how about we kick it up a notch and have Meat On Monday (or one other day of the week) and begin enjoying all the other wonderful meatless foods our great planet provides us with on all the other days of the week. Think of the huge impact that would have on the environment!
Eating meat only one day a week would be better for you, for me, for the planet, and for all the wonderful plants and animal species that inhabit this place we call home. And what a beautiful place home is.
If you’d like to learn more about Meatless Monday, search the term ‘Meatless Monday’ for a ton of information about meat alternatives and great recipe ideas you can use in place of meat.
“Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” ~ Albert Einstein
Are you a Meatless Monday person? Send us your comments and any ideas and suggestions you’d like to share. Thanks!
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