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Just Another Meatless Monday…

There’s a new way to start your week and it involves eating more vegetables.

Lately, I can’t help but notice the growing popularity of the “Meatless Monday” movement. It’s been around for some time, but dare I say, the movement appears to be reaching a level of critical mass. With companies, chefs, and even the government taking note!

The Meatless Monday website states “By cutting out meat once a week, we can improve our health, reduce our carbon footprint and lead the world in the race to reduce climate change.” Those are lofty goals, for sure, but the idea that incremental change can yield meaningful results is very real.

At Reboot, our mission is to empower and encourage people to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all or nothing for everyone.

Sure, some people will stop eating meat completely and that may make sense to them, whereas for others, it’s about making a change that will be manageable long-term. For example, if you are a regular meat-eater (1-2 times per day), by committing to go meatless on Mondays, you can effectively reduce your meat-intake by 15%.

If you do decide to join this movement, you won’t be alone! Many of the top chefs across the country are embracing “Meatless Monday” and featuring vegetarian dishes on their Monday menus.

Beyond chefs, companies are also getting into the game. Whole Foods, Williams-Sonoma, Cuisinart and Buitoni are all embracing it in their social media strategy and tweeting recipes and other ideas.

Interestingly the “Meatless Monday” movement recently caught the eye of the USDA which promoted the concept as a viable option in an internal newsletter. (That is, until the powerful U.S. meat-industry took up the opposite argument and ultimately got the USDA statement retracted.)

The part to focus on, from a Reboot point of view, is what you choose to replace the meat with. Undoubtedly, your meal will be healthier if you choose fruits and vegetables, minimally processed foods and limit the dairy.

Here are some of my favorite Meatless Mondays recipes:

Fiesta Stuffed Peppers

Spiced Lentil & Tomato Stew

Vegetable Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Berry Breakfast Quinoa

Citrus Kale Salad