Healthy Monday: The Benefits to Cutting Back On Meat

Reposting from November 2009! Enjoy! :)
As I am writing this post, I am starving. It's 12 pm on Saturday and I've got lunch on the brain. I came across this awesome recipe for vegetarian bolognese (scrap the beef and use lentils!) and to say I am craving a lentil packed pasta dish now would be an understatement. I thought I would take advantage of my hunger induced attitude to share with you the benefits of cutting back on meat. (And I know some of my readers are already vegetarians, so please feel free to add your 2 cents in the comments.)

First off, the health benefits are a plenty. According to MeatlessMonday.com, replacing meat with foods lower in saturated fats can reduce your chance of heart disease and keep your cholesterol low. It can also help you maintain a healthier weight and improve the overall quality of your diet.

Zucchini Cakes from EatBoutique.com

Secondly, there are environmental benefits to reducing your meat intake. MeatlessMonday.com writes, "United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide . . . far more than transportation." Another issue is the large amounts of water required by livestock. Cutting back on meat will allow us to minimize water usage, as well as cut back on fossil fuel dependence.

Now, I've tried the vegetarian route and honestly, I couldn't do it. But my husband and I do try to have meatless meals once or twice a week. It's not as daunting as you might think. Dawn Jackson Blatner has a great little article on how to ease the transition.