Healthy Monday - Week 12:
Meatless Monday
During your busy week, your body deserves some healthy fuel. Try starting the week with Meatless Monday. Watch the video below featuring Michelle Walters, MS, RD, Research Nutritionist for the Integrative Therapies Program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), and Michelle Bombacie, MS, Program Manager for the Integrative Therapies Program at CUIMC to see how you can add more vegetarian and plant-based foods into your diet. After you’ve learned about these different options, reinforce your knowledge and share your feedback by clicking the survey link below. We’d love to hear from you.
This week we introduce you to Meatless Monday, with five reasons why choosing plant-based meals on Monday can be good for you and the planet. We’re thrilled to bring you a healthy way to start your week off right.
Launched in 2003, Meatless Monday is a global movement with a simple message: one day a week, cut the meat. The campaign is embraced in over 40 countries, and in over 20 languages, demonstrating its universal appeal.
Here are five big reasons to go meatless this Monday, from improving heart health to adding new vegetables to your diet. Your small actions can make huge changes in the world.
1. Health
Studies reveal excessive red and processed meat consumption leads to a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cancer. In comparison, substituting plant-based foods for meat has been shown to reduce these health risks, resulting in a better quality of life and increased longevity.
2. The Planet
Raising livestock for our current level of consumption has a detrimental impact on our planet, increasing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming and depleting our scarce natural resources, including water, land, and energy. Plant-based nutrition contributes to healthy, sustainable food-growing practices.
3. Try New Fruits and Vegetables
Have you ever tried fennel? Or a persimmon? There’s so much in the fruit and vegetable aisle in your local grocery store that you may be missing as you reach for something familiar. Why not try plantains, passionfruit, navy beans, or some chestnuts? Don’t be intimidated! There are hundreds of easy recipes on the Meatless Monday website to explore. Your taste buds are already tingling with excitement!
4. Meatless Monday is a Global Movement
You won’t be alone in your efforts to be personally healthier and curb greenhouse gases when you take part in Meatless Monday. This is a worldwide effort. There are folks in India, Brazil, the U.K., Singapore, and even Bhutan who are practicing Meatless Monday!
5. It’s Delicious!
Creamy hummus, snappy celery, hearty beans – plant-based foods are not only good for you, they are also tasty! Concerned you’ll miss out on protein on Mondays? Don’t be! You can get a full day of protein while cutting out meat. Nutritionists say, nuts, beans, grains, and veggies contain abundant protein, more than enough to meet your recommended daily allowance.
These are big reasons to join the Meatless Monday revolution and take a bite out of an apple instead of a burger on Mondays. Eat well and live longer while you help the planet by cutting out the meat one day a week.
Share Your Feedback
Please answer a few quick questions (1 minute) to let us know if you're setting your intention and learning something new. Have a Healthy Monday!
What else is your hospital doing for Healthy Monday?
For staff at Columbia University Irving Medical Center: Get more resources to support this week’s practice from Columbia Work/Life.
For staff at NewYork-Presbyterian: Get more resources to support this week’s practice from NYPBeHealthy.
Need a quick dose of stress relief? Try our SOS practices:
