Going completely vegan or vegetarian is a growing trend in some areas of the United States, but most Americans are still reluctant to give up beloved hamburgers and steaks, among other meaty delicacies. There is a simpler solution to reducing carbon footprints, eating healthier and advocating sustainably-raised meat all at once: go meatless—but only on Mondays. The goal of the Meatless Monday campaign, according to the organization’s website, is to encourage families across the world to cut their intake of meat by at least 15 percent, ultimately creating better eating habits and a healthier planet by giving up meat just once a week.
“My family is trying to do Meatless Mondays, and it’s working well for me and my mom, but not so much for my dad and brother,” junior Kristina Jacob said. “We’re also trying to eat organic foods or less processed foods. So now on Mondays, we eat a lot of salads and pastas, and I’m actually enjoying it.”
Americans consume close to 200 pounds of chicken, fish, poultry and beef annually, making the nation the highest per capita consumer of meat. All that meat certainly has a cost, for both individual health as well as the collective health of the planet.
“I eat meat pretty much every day, with almost every meal,” senior Syed Sakib said. “I could probably do Meatless Mondays if there were good alternatives.”
The U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that meat production accounts for close to one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. Methane released by cows and other livestock in the form of gas is an even more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Many people are also concerned about the hygiene and inhumanity of common practices in the meat industry after shocking discoveries such as the use of “pink slime” in beef last year and the recent discovery of horse meat in Ikea meatballs that had been packaged as beef and pork. Unconventional and often unhealthy practices are implemented in order to produce cheap meat to keep up with the extremely high demand.
“I just watched Food Inc. in one of my classes, and I think the heavy demand for meat is definitely causing some of the gross conditions in meat production,” Jacob said.
Red meat is closely linked to multiple types of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and the growing endemic of obesity in America. By replacing excess meat with an ensemble of vegetarian dishes containing essential nutrients, healthier eating habits can be established in households across the country.
“I don’t think meat is always detrimental to one’s health, as long as it’s eaten as part of a balanced diet and you don’t overload on triple cheeseburgers,” junior Tonia Wu said. “I’m not really a fan of tofu or veggie meatballs, which most people eat instead of meat, so if I were to do Meatless Mondays, I’d probably go for salads loaded with cheese.”
The appeal of Meatless Mondays lies in the fact that it is a short term commitment. Many people would not want to, or perhaps be able to, stay meat-free for a long stretch of time. By participating in Meatless Mondays, more people can be included in the movement to create more sustainable living habits and healthier lifestyles.
“I like eating healthy, vegetarian foods at home, but I really hope that I can keep these healthy eating habits once I get to college,” Jacob said.
