In an effort to cut down on meat consumption for health and environmental reasons, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously 12-0 to adopt “Meatless Monday”. Meatless Monday is exactly what it sounds like, for one day at the beginning of the week you choose other food options besides the fried chicken and hamburgers.
Yet despite the decision being unanimous, it seems there is quite a split in opinions by the public.
While many people think this is a good thing, negative comments have poured in under all the articles talking about this new decision.
“If someone is trying to take away my meat on Mondays, I’m going to eat extra for those who decide to follow it.”
“I will continue to eat my deep fried chicken, thank you very much.”
“I’ll eat what I want, when I want.”
Of course people feel threatened the moment the government tries to implant ideas in our head about anything whether it be what we eat or what is or is not patriot. However, this Meatless Monday was only something adopted as a way to remind people to eat meat in moderation. Nothing will be enforced by the government, because if that was a case this would be an entirely different article.
Comments, and the attitude of, “I’ll eat what I want, when I want,” is exactly what Meatless Monday is trying to discourage. Whether you decide to eat meat on a Monday, and a bowl of fresh veggies and fruit on a Tuesday, what you eat should always be entirely your decision. The point of Meatless Mondays is that at least one day a week you are more conscious about your food choices.
All too often people just head to a drive thru and picks what “looks good” but isn’t “good for you”. Perhaps Meatless Mondays will give everyone that extra second to think about food choices.
One of my favorite food bloggers, Chocolate Covered Katie has not only awesome vegetarian recipes, but healthy dessert alternatives.
I am not a hardcore vegetarian by any means, but I consciously think about avoiding meat most of the days out of the week. And no, unlike the common belief that if you don’t eat meat, you are protein deprived, that’s not the case.
The point isn’t to take away anything from anybody. Because part of being in the United States should be that our freedoms are protected, not taken away.
The way I see Meatless Monday isn’t someone standing over you and saying, “You can’t eat that”. I see Meatless Monday as no different than joining the gym with a friend or having a New Year’s resolution.
Why does a large portion of the American population decide to start losing weight right at New Years? Is it some big government scheme to get you to go to the gym? No, it’s a date that year after year people decide to start doing what they already should be doing to begin with.
It’s easier to be healthier when people around you are doing the same thing. Meatless Monday should only be used as an extra boost to getting everyone to think about trying something new to eat. And for all you know, you might find a new favorite food you wouldn’t have tried otherwise.
With obesity, high cholesterol, and all the other food causing health problems out there, Meatless Monday is really only a small step to a much larger picture. In the end it doesn’t matter if you follow it.
Everyone should be able to make their own decisions. Meatless Monday is just a catchy phrase, to get people talking about food alternatives for one day a week. If any organization gets more pushy beyond that, then of course I think people should get upset.
Enjoy your meat-free Mondays, meatloaf Mondays, or vegetarian Wednesdays.
Whatever you decide, at least take one extra second out of your day to think about what you’re eating. To me, that’s what Meatless Mondays is all about.
