Before the title of this article scares you away, I need to clarify that I am not trying to turn anyone into a vegetarian. Instead, I’m here to promote an idea that will not only help save the animals and the planet, but also help save you (yeah, you). The term “Meatless Monday” was derived during World War I when America was trying to save meat in order to provide more rations for soldiers overseas. Although we aren’t at the point where we need to send soldiers extra food, the possible implementation of Meatless Monday is potentially groundbreaking.

If everyone in America avoided eating meat one day a week, the population would definitely reap the benefits. Going meatless once a week could substantially reduce risks of various chronic preventable conditions like cancer, diabetes, obesity and more. Avoiding meat for one day means avoiding all the hormones and additives that have proven to have negative affects on the human body.

Many people have qualms about going meatless even for just one day due to fears of not getting enough protein. Unfortunately, we have been falsely educated on the fact that meat is the only way to get protein. In reality, protein can be found in hummus, beans, quinoa, eggs, nuts, tofu, leafy greens, chia seeds and many more easily accessible foods.

Skipping out on meat does not only help the animals being slaughtered daily for our consumption, but also can drastically better the environment. Most people are completely unaware of how much water it takes to raise and maintain poultry. According to meatlessmonday.com, approximately 1,850 gallons of water are needed to produce a single pound of beef while it only takes 39 gallons of water to produce a pound of vegetables.

By swearing off meat for one day, we are not only minimizing our water consumption, but also lessening our carbon footprint. Multiple studies have shown that meat production produces significantly more greenhouse gases than vegetable production. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which are the three main sources of greenhouse gas.

Alongside conserving greenhouse gases, Meatless Mondays also reduce our fuel dependency. The meat industry uses such an excess of energy to produce grain for livestock that if we used that grain to feed populations not eating meat, it could feed over 840 million people.

If these reasons don’t encourage you to change your habits just once a week, here’s one last try. Meatless Mondays can help you lose weight and save you money at the same time. By eating a meatless diet, you are eating more fiber-rich plants and intaking less saturated fat, raising your body's metabolism and keeping it fueled with the right nutrients. With that, staying away from the poultry section can save you a large chunk of money that could potentially be used for more exciting things, like clothing, concert tickets or whatever your heart desires.

Hopefully this article shed some light on the wide-ranging benefits of going meatless once a week! To find out more, visit: www.meatlessmonday.com.