Meat-Free Mondays, please!

As I sit here on my deck, basking in the early evening sun, I was finally taking the time to explore some sites that I had been meaning to peruse for some time—but didn’t have time.

I read through some recipe sites, and ended up on Planetgreen.com which, I have to tell you, is a wonderful site! They have a food and health section that is really worth the time to get to know. While I was wandering around the site, I stumbled on a concept that I immediately knew I wanted to adopt, and I want you to think about it, too. Meat-Free Mondays. Really. Now I know that you know that this is easy for me since I only eat fish once or twice a week now anyway, but go with me here. Most Americans eat meat not only everyday, but sometimes every meal. Not only is this not such a healthy idea, but it is an expensive one, too. Not only is meat more expensive for you to buy at the market, it is expensive for the planet to sustain. Growing a pound of beef, for example, costs pounds of grain, energy and gallons of water and fuel. Read all you want about healthier cuts of meat, and organically raised chickens. When you cut to the bottom line, we could all do well to reduce our consumption of animal products. Meat. Dairy. Period. You don’t have to become a vegetarian (not that it isn’t a good idea…) but this is a good way to expand your cooking skills, think outside the box, and try a new vegetable dish! Rise to the challenge!!

Could you just try it out? Every Monday from now until, say, forever, just say no to meat. And limit dairy to once a day, while you’re at it. Do it for your health. Do it for the health of the planet. Just do it.

(Maybe then we could try Just Fruit Fridays???)