Indianapolis Joins Meatless Monday Winner’s Circle

Mark another milestone for Meatless Monday. On December 5, 2016, the City-County Council of Indianapolis, home of the famous “Indy 500” race, passed a resolution in support of Meatless Monday. This new resolution encourages city residents and institutions to enjoy a meat-free day at the beginning of each week. The goal of the resolution is to raise awareness about healthy eating and to reduce the city’s environmental footprint.

Indianapolis is the 14th largest city in the U.S. Nearly two-thirds of the adults and approximately 40 percent of children and teens are overweight or obese. This preventable condition has been linked to heart disease, type-2 diabetes, stroke, arthritis and cancer. By substituting fruits and vegetables for meat, growing evidence suggests it reduces the risk of heart disease. In addition, people on low-meat or vegetarian diets have significantly lower body weights and body mass indices.

Indianapolis now joins other forward-thinking cities, such as Sacramento, San Diego and Pittsburgh, in advancing the Meatless Monday movement. The locally based Vegan Meetup Group has seen an 800 percent increase in membership over the past four years. What’s more, many city restaurants are now featuring meat-free dishes. To learn more about the Meatless Monday activities in Indianapolis and to get involved, visit their Facebook page.