The Meatless Monday Challenge!

So, you may be reading my blog and thinking, “Tedi, there is no way in hell I’m giving up meat!” Which I get, there were many years I felt the very same way. But the health benefits of giving up meat and dairy are so profound that it’s definitely worth trying to eat at least a little less meat, even if you’re not ready to make the full change. So, that said, I’ve got a different challenge for you that just might seem more doable and less overwhelming: Meatless Monday!

We all know vegetables are great for us, right? And if you are having animal products (aka meat, poultry, fish, eggs or dairy) everyday, that’s a lot. And the crazy thing is that most of us in the U.S. do eat animal products every single day, while veggies make up such a small portion of our diets. Think back to what you ate yesterday…and the day before…and the day before that…did you have any meals that were totally free of meat, poultry, fish, dairy or eggs? Overwhelming to realize we eat so many animal foods and byproducts, right? So I’m challenging everyone to give your body a break, a mini cleanse so to speak, and try one day with no animal products! Just one day!

My sister’s boyfriend Sonny will be the first to admit he loves eating meat. He’s not looking to go veg right now but when he took a look back at what he eats each day he realized that his diet was very meat heavy in a way that he felt simply wasn’t necessary. He took the challenge head on and has already completed two full Meatless Mondays…and get this…even as a meat-eater he’s really enjoying his Meatless Mondays!

Here are some ideas for your Meatless Monday:

Breakfast

• Oatmeal with berries (substitute dairy milk with almond, rice or any other plant-based milk if you normally add milk to your oatmeal).
• Bagel with tofu cream cheese (tastes exactly like regular cream cheese) and whatever else you like on your bagels.
• Chia seed pudding (check out my recipe here).
• Peanut butter toast & banana (recipe here).

Lunch

• Avocado toast, salad & cherries (two of my favorite recipes here).
• Sandwich with garlic bean spread (recipe here), lettuce, tomato & sprouts and a side of fruit.
• Burrito bowl with beans, rice, veggies, guacamole & salsa.

Dinner

• Tacos with refried beans, salsa, onions, lettuce, vegan sour cream & guacamole.
• Simple pasta, olive oil, red sauce & basil.
• Vegan sausage and peppers over polenta (recipe here).
• Stir fry with rice, cabbage, bok choy, soy sauce & sesame seeds.

And here are some restaurants to try that have delicious plant-based options for everyone that’s new to plant-based eating: Veggie Grill (West Coast), Le Pain Quotidien (Europe, West Coast, East Coast and new in Chicago), Chipotle (Everywhere!), Blackseed Bagels (NYC), Whole Foods (Everywhere!), Blossom Du Jour (NYC), Lyfe Kitchen (Illinois, California, Texas, Colorado, Nevada), and True Food Kitchen (Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Texas).

So what do you think? Are you up for the challenge??

Let me know how it goes!