Tis the season that many Americans are looking to start the New Year with a single or group of resolutions to better their lives one way or another. According to studies nearly 90% of American resolutions are based on the improvement of their health. While the idea isn’t new, there is a movement aimed at changing the way we eat one day a week. It was developed to help those interested in bettering their health. As we have attempted to do since our inception, Mobile Cuisine will continue to cover the Meatless Monday’s program for our readers.

To do our part in supporting Meatless Mondays we believe that sharing information, recipes, and news about vegetarianism and leading a more conscious life overall is beneficial for everyone, vegetarian and omnivore alike. We feel that if you are looking for a new approach for a healthy New Year, Meatless Mondays can be an easy route to follow throughout the year and the beautiful part is that if you are a food truck owner or follower, there are many means in which you can stick to the program from this point forward.

If you are a person who needs information to back up your resolution, we will provide you with a list of some of the benefits that joining this movement will be for you and the planet.

The Benefits Of Going Meatless One Day A Week

For Your Heatlth

  • REDUCE HEART DISEASE: Beans, peas, nuts and seeds contain little to no saturated fats. Reducing saturated fats can help keep your cholesterol low, and cut risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • LIMIT CANCER RISK: Hundreds of studies suggest that diets high in fruits and vegetables can reduce cancer risk. Red meat consumption is associated with colon cancer.
  • FIGHT DIABETES: Research suggests that plant-based diets– particularly those low in processed meat – can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.
  • CURB OBESITY: People on low-meat or vegetarian diets have significantly lower body weights and body mass indices. A plant-based diet is a great source of fiber (absent in animal products). This makes you feel full with fewer calories, ie. lower calorie intake and less overeating.
  • LIVE LONGER: Red and processed meat consumption is associated with increases in total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality.
  • IMPROVE YOUR DIET: Consuming beans or peas results in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron and magnesium with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat.

For Your Wallet

  • CUT WEEKLY BUDGET: Food prices continue to rise. Current increases are especially sharp in packaged items and meat, which require extra expenses like feed and transportation. Forgoing meat once a week is a great way to cut the weekly budget.
  • CURB HEALTHCARE SPENDING: Treatment of chronic preventable diseases accounts for 70% of total U.S. healthcare spending. By reducing our risk for these conditions, we can curtail healthcare spending nationwide.

For The Planet

  • REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT: The UN estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change.
  • MINIMIZE WATER USAGE: The water needs of livestock are huge. It’s far above those of vegetables or grains. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef.
  • REDUCE FUEL DEPENDENCE: On average, about 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S. (compared to 2.2 calories of fossil fuel for plant-based protein).

RELATED: Here’s Why Your Food Truck Should Participate

The Bottom Line

The thought of skipping meat may appear daunting. Committing to Meatless Mondays can be so much easier and affordable than it appears. Not to mention, eating meat-free one day a week has extreme benefits for both you and the environment.

Do your part today and join the movement? Signing up is fast and easy! Follow them on Twitter. We look forward to continued sharing of Meatless Monday with our readers!