What are you having for dinner tonight? A growing number of people are kicking off the week by kicking meat off the menu””it’s known as “Meatless Monday” and it’s become a popular trend in the omnivore and carnivore communities.
This recent meatless revolution was started by The Monday Campaigns, a nonprofit initiative associated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The main goal of this movement is to minimize meat consumption by at least 15%, for several reasons.
For starters, it may help reduce intake of saturated fat, increase consumption of healthy veggies, nuts, beans and seeds, and minimize the environmental impact caused by meat processing.
If you’ve decided to join in and forgo meat, what can you eat? There’s no need to pine for protein, because nature offers some amazing sources of this essential nutrient. Instead of red meat, dine on a casserole, stew, soup or chili loaded with hearty protein-rich beans and legumes, such as soybeans, kidney beans, black beans or lentils. Other natural protein sources include chia seeds (great in a morning smoothie) and quinoa (the perfect side dish).
Make sure to include plenty of fresh fruits and veggies in your meals throughout the day to ensure your body is getting the correct balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
If you’re looking for a fulfilling snack, skip the beef jerky and go for a healthy serving of nuts or seeds.
Are you participating in Meatless Monday? Share your thoughts!