Bon Appétit chefs have always offered creative, delicious, plant-based menu options, but some have chosen to go a step further and join the global Meatless Monday campaign. Meatless Monday, a campaign started by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future in 2003, is an opportunity to cut back on meat on Mondays, a day when research shows people are more likely to make positive behavioral changes. On Meatless Monday, your chefs will offer even more plant-based options to take part in this fast-growing movement.
There are so many reasons you might be inspired to go meatless one day a week. Here are just a few.
For The Environment
- Meat production requires a large amount of water. In fact, it takes nearly 50 times as much water to produce a pound of beef than a pound of vegetables! If you go meat-free just one day a week for an entire year, you’ll save enough water for nearly four years of personal use.
- The United States devotes 700 million acres of land to animal grazing. This is seven times the size of California! Grazing animals cause erosion, pollute waterways with manure, and constantly release methane, a greenhouse gas 20 to 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide.
- The carbon emissions caused by animal agriculture contribute to climate change. In fact, they’re a bigger contributor to climate change than the entire transportation industry. Eating one fewer burger per week reduces carbon emissions in an amount equivalent to 320 miles of driving!
For Your Health
- Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to get plenty of protein from plant-based sources.
- Research has linked plant-based diets to lower rates of obesity and chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Eating your vegetables may even help you live longer!
- Cutting out meat one day a week can reduce dietary saturated fat intake by up to 15%!
For Animal Welfare
Bon Appétit has long been a pioneer in ethical sourcing, from cage-free eggs to humanely raised ground beef. Decreasing the demand for animal protein means using the same amount of land, farms can be less crowded, farmers can raise healthier, slower-growing breeds, and consumers can spend their meat dollars more thoughtfully. Giving up meat even one day a week can increase the likelihood that the animals we do eat will be raised more responsibly and in better conditions.
For more information about Meatless Monday, visit http://www.meatlessmonday.com.