Do you want to make a difference and are not sure how to go about it? Consider participating in Meatless Mondays! Make choosing to be eco-conscious over convenience a top priority this year! If a plant-based diet has appealed to you but you are not quite sure where/how to start, meatless Mondays is a great way to begin finding meals and plant based options that you enjoy, while also showing a little love to our planet. While going vegan/vegetarian is not for everyone, a small reduction in meat consumption one day a week can prove to be extremely beneficial for the planet and your health.
What is “Meatless Mondays”
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Meatless Monday is a movement that encourages people to reduce their meat consumption for their personal health and the health of our planet.
What is the Environmental Importance of Meatless Mondays
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Meatless Monday is of utmost importance especially in the United States, as we consume much more animal products than the rest of the world.
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The meat industry uses vast amounts of our finite fossil fuels and water and lots of grain to feed livestock, which is extremely inefficient. Why not use those resources to feed people more directly?
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About 1,850 gallons of water is needed to produce a singular pound of beef, comparable to only 39 gallons of water per pound of vegetables. A vegetarian diet alone could dramatically reduce water consumption by 58% per person!
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Meat production also is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which has proven to correlate to the climate change crisis.
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Some benefits of eating plant-based once a week include:
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Save 133 gallons of water with each meatless meal!
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Reduce your carbon footprint by 8 pounds each Meatless Monday you participate in
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If you commit to participating in Meatless Monday every Monday, that is equivalent to skipping one serving of beef for a year would save the same amount of emissions as driving 348 miles in a car.
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The Significance of Eating Plant-Based on Personal Health (even for just one day a week!)
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Reduce your risk of:
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heart disease and stroke because fruits and vegetables help your body fight cardiovascular disease.
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Obesity and maintaining a healthy weight!
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Cancer since eating red and/or processed meat increases risk of colorectal cancer.
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Diabetes, because adding more greens to your diet helps aid in maintaining a healthy weight which is a key factor of preventing type 2 diabetes.
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Other Benefits Associated with Meatless Mondays:
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Maybe more surprisingly, reduce your grocery budget by going meatless once a week and save at the very least $4
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If all Americans participated, it would prevent BILLIONS of animals from being factory farmed.
Events to Look Out for
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Vegan happy hour menus offered in Boulder find here!
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EcoSocial Solution Series is back! Every other Thursday at 5pm. The next one is Thursday March 4th.
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DIY series on our instagram, every Friday at 5pm!