Monday, December 01, 2008 Meatless Monday - Help our Health..and Our Planet By Michelle Stern @ 5:56 PM :: 110 Views :: 1 Comments :: :: Healthy Eating, Michelle Stern   Meatless Monday - Using the Kitchen to Help our Health..and Our Planet Meatless MondayMeatless Monday is a national public health campaign in association with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to help prevent heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer - four of the leading causes of death in America. The goal of the campaign is to reduce consumption of saturated fat by at least 15% by 2010. This is consistent with the dietary recommendations of the US Department of Health and Human Services, the US Department of Agriculture and the American Heart Association. The Math Behind Meatless Monday On average, Americans should reduce their saturated fat intake by 15% 1 day out of 7 = 15% Meatless Monday and the American Diet Meatless Monday is not a weight loss plan or a vegetarian campaign. Instead, Meatless Monday encourages Americans to adopt a more balanced approach to nutrition by: * limiting meat and saturated fat intake * incorporating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains - the foods that help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer – into their diets Meatless Monday helps people start the week off right by encouraging them to take an approach of moderation in their eating and meal planning. The campaign defines going meatless as abstaining from red meat, poultry and high-fat dairy products. Fish and seafood, especially those high in omega-3 fatty acids, are encouraged. The campaign provides guidelines for safe fish consumption for women and children. Practicing Meatless Monday is also a great way for children to learn simple and healthy eating habits. MeatlessMonday.com provides fun ideas for helping children go meatless on Monday and make healthier decisions all week long. Oh - and what about our planet? Meatless Monday has an even larger impact! The livestock industry is responsible for nearly one-fifth of all global greenhouse gas emissions— more than the entire transportation sector. So, by abstaining for just one night, you are acting with your fork!

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Comments By brian jenks @ Tuesday, December 02, 2008 8:28 PM This is a win-win if there ever was one. We've actually pulled meat from the menu a couple of times a week and try to use it as a side dish more than a main course when we can. Click Here to post a comment