Meat Free Monday

‘Meat Free Monday’ is a non-profit campaign that aims to raise awareness of the impact animal agriculture and industrial fishing can have on the environment. Launched by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney in 2009, the campaign encourages the slowing of climate change by switching meat to plant-based foods one day a week.

SO WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE PART IN MEAT FREE MONDAYS?

SAVE MONEY: It was found from a poll of 2,000 people that 26% had reduced their meat intake during the last twelve months and in doing so, saved an average of £209! Vegetables, beans and pulses are generally a lot cheaper than meat products, and so by reducing how much meat you are buying every week, you can save yourself some money!

HEALTH BENEFITS: Adding more vegetables to your diet can help increase your intake of fibre and potassium which contributes to healthy blood pressure and reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Magnesium found in leafy greens, beans and pulses is needed for healthy bones and it has been shown that inadequate levels of magnesium can result in muscle cramps and high blood pressure. Which can explain why in a four-year study of over 15,000 people in the US, those who limited meat in their diets were 42% less likely to develop heart disease than those who didn’t.

Eating less meat can also have an impact on your weight as gram for gram, vegetables and other plant-based foods have less fat and calories compared to meat. Veggie alternatives can also be just as protein rich as some meats –but without the saturated fats and high calorie content associated with red meat.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS: Research shows that going meat-free just one day a week could make a significant difference to the environment. In fact, by switching to plant-based foods for just 1 in every 7 days, the UK could cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 8.4%.

EASIER THAN EVER: With plant-based diets being an on-trend topic, there are now over 160 vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Northern Ireland and most restaurants will have vegan and veggie options on their menu. Just look at KFC, Burger King and McDonalds, who have all jumped on the plant-based bandwagon and have created vegan alternatives to their most popular menu options.

You can find out more about the Meat Free Monday campaign and the impact eating meat can have on the environment by visiting meatfreemondays.com.