“I’m as susceptible to peer pressure as the next person. More and more of my friends are going meatless on Mondays, and it is nearly impossible to pick up a magazine, turn on the TV or go online without hearing about the movement. So vegetarian it will be for Labor Day, and for Mondays thereafter. Dinner guests will be forewarned.”
David Hagedorn for The Washington Post
“Make a list of the reasons you might consider going meatless. Is your cholesterol high? Are you looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint? Did your doctor tell you to cut back on your saturated fat? Commit to going meatless one day a week. It doesn’t have to be Monday, but by going meatless on what is the first day of the week for most Americans, you set yourself up for success the rest of the week.”
Sara Groves’ “Room for Improvement” for The Independent Record
“All 15 of Batali’s resturants serve extra begetarian options on Meatless Monday, an offshoot of the partial-vegetarian movement that is spreading across the country… Batali says he’s had no trouble getting his customers to change their thinking. ‘When ramps come in, more than half of our customers order pasta with ramps. We’ve been able to train them to appreciate it’.”
Joel Stein for TIME Magazine
“Whichever way you slice it, reducing your meat intake makes sense, both for your own health and the planet’s. What could Meatless Mondays look like? The options are endless, but the best bet is to keep it simple, especially if your family is used to a traditional meat-and-potatoes lifestyle. You might be surprised to find that your family likes it!”
Jennifer Sygo for The Ottawa Citizen
“Change has to start somewhere, so why not with you? It’s easy! You could start right now… forward a link to this post or take someone to lunch down at the STREAT cart or invite some friends around next Monday night and cook up a vegetarian feast…the possibilities are endless. As Ghandi said ‘We must be the change we wish to see in the world.’”
Australia’s STREAT Magazine
“Whether you’re a burger lover or a strict vegetarian you’ve probably heard that too much meat is definitely not a good thing. But you don’t have to swear off summer barbecues, either. Interested in cutting back on meat? Check out the Meatless Monday campaign.”
Kiera Butler for Mother Jones
“Go meatless, on Mondays or any day. Yes, barbecue aficionados we know it grates hearing this, but all that pulled pork gets pulled a long way… Going meatless won’t hurt your waistline, unless you substitute Krispy Kremes, and it may be a culinary growth experience.”
Barbara Kessler for ABC
“When Mario Batali starts to push people to eat their vegetables, you know something is happening. The famously rotund and infamously gluttonous chef-restaurateur is to pig what the Beatles are to rock-and-roll. And yet this month, Batali announced that he would join Meatless Monday, a movement backed by a broad array of public-health advocates that asks carnivores to give up meat one day a week.”
Jane Black in The Washington Post
“Let’s maximize the potential of Meatless Mondays and bring this revolutionary idea to all of America’s public schools. Tell Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack of the USDA, which oversees the National School Lunch Program, to make Meatless Mondays mandatory in public schools.”
Editor at Care2
“Baltimore City, thanks to Meatless Monday and other initiatives, is leading the country in nutrition reform,” says Tony Geraci. “Our vision is to create a central kitchen so we’re creating healthy meals from head start to hospice to help the whole city.”
Melanie R. Holmes at The Afro-American Newspapers
“Wisely, the creators of these movements are asking for less from their target audience – just a few brief hours of forgoing the spring lamb for the spring radish, not a signed commitment to a lifetime of veganism.”
Laura Shunk on Denver Westworld
“I have no problem eating my veggies, and occasionally prepare meatless meals just for a change of pace. Going entirely meat-free just once a week no doubt will be a good thing. I mean, what doctor has ever told you to eat less broccoli, more steak?”
Leslie J. Ansley on The Root
“The megaphone message is this: if Mario Batali can do it, you can. You don’t have to go full-stop vegan or vegetarian. But it’s really not that hard to make a change one day a week.”
Joanna Prisco in PARADE Magazine
“I see Meatless Mondays as a fabulous opportunity to increase our intake of nutrient-dense vegetables and whole grains. Just because a meal is meatless, though, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better. This isn’t a license to eat unlimited pasta, or potatoes the size of melons. Same goes for cookies, fries and chips: They may be meat-free, but they’re certainly not improving your diet – or the environment.”
Molly Kimball in The Times, Picayune
“I love the org’s message: Americans eat way too much meat, and that overconsumption has been linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. For most, it’s unrealistic to go totally veggie, and Meatless Monday knows it. So the totally realistic compromise they’re advocating is to cut out meat one day a week.”
Jenny Everett in SELF Magazine
“Meatless Monday makes good common sense, particularly for hotels wanting to anchor themselves with a green identity. A lot of restaurants and hotels already use local ingredients and produce. Meatless Monday is the next logical step.”
Michelle Revuelta on Hotel Interactive
“Mario Batali, who pioneered the use of offal and other rarely used animal parts in his cooking at Babbo nearly two decades ago, is launching a new dining initiative that might come as a surprise: Meatless Mondays.”
Matt Dukor on NBC’s FEAST
“Foodies everywhere are buzzing about Mario Batali’s declaration that he is a ‘big believer in the Meatless Monday movement’ and his announcement that all 14 of his restaurants will offer at least two vegetarian options each and every Monday.”
Karin Bennett on OPPOSING VIEWS
“Batali won’t be eliminating meat, but rather simply adding a couple of vegetarian entrees to the menu every Monday. Still, it’s a sign of the times or, at least, a sign of the path some are taking during these times.”
Daniel Maurer on Grub Street
“World-renowned celebrity chef Mario Batali has just embraced vegetarian principlesor at least for one day of the week. In a bold move that’ll make your average pizza chef blush, Batali has just embraced Meatless Mondays.”
Editor of Celebrity Diet Daily
“Some wonder whether a Meatless Monday might cut into needed protein requirements, but most Americans consume more than enough protein anyway and the vegetable kingdom is a rich source.”
Dr. Chris Rosenbloom on Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“You certainly don’t need to eat meat to get protein. Meat is an important part of your diet, but you don’t need to eat it every day of the week.”
Ralph Logiscili on CNN.com
“Certain types of meat in moderation can be a tasty treat, but do we really need meat every day? Replacing meat with vegetables each Monday is a healthy way to get started on a healthier lifestyle.”
eHow Member
“When you think about it, there are so many great alternatives. In Italian cooking, so many of the dishes are vegetarian already, and Thai and Chinese cuisine are the same. All it means is you have to think a bit about what you’ll eat that day — but it’s a fun challenge.”
Paul McCartney on KTN ABC, Las Vegas
“You can make Monday the day to try something new by experimenting with an unknown spice, grain or plant-based protein. To ensure that your meal is an event to remember, plan out your menu over the weekend. You’ll save yourself the hassle of missing ingredients come Monday.”
Tami O’Neill on Good Magazine
“Going without meat on Mondays isn’t a round-about way of promoting a vegetarian diet. Rather, it’s a campaign designed to encourage meat-eaters to be more aware of their health, for instance, less saturated fat is better for one’s heart.”
Louise on Farm to Table
“We can gradually improve the quality of the food we eat, the fuel we put in our tank. Our hope is that we can achieve this together, by making more space on the plate for vegetables, one Monday at a time!”
Chris Elam on Gotham Schools
“If everyone in San Francisco observed Meatless Monday, the result would be the same as removing 123,000 cars from the street per year (which would be great for traffic).’
Jimmy Orr in the LA Times
“The major research report found the mass production of meat creates “notable negative impact on human health, the environment and the global economy.’
Cayte Grieve on BlackBookMag.com
“Meatless Mondays is an idea that isn’t borne out of vegetarianism. It’s meant to help people discover the importance of plants in the human diet. Nutrients in plants are very helpful in combating and preventing chronic diseases. Try it once a week and feel the difference.’
Blogger on Iranian.com
“It’s great to call awareness to dietary concerns, and the whole interplay between one’s dietary choices and the environment, and if it brings a couple more people in on Monday nights, great.’
Chef Eric Tucker for SF Weekly
“If Meatless Monday hasn’t come your way yet, it may not be too long before you start wondering, “where’s the beef?” The national campaign gained traction when the Baltimore Public School System offered vegetarian options to students on Mondays. More and more institutions, organizations, media companies and celebrities have since vowed to eat no meat on Monday.’
Katie Leavitt for Tonic
“Four other UC schools Berkeley, Davis, Santa Barbara and San Diegohave adopted Meatless Monday, a movement sponsored by a non-profit of the same name that advocates for cutting meat out one day a week.’
Elizabeth Limbach for Good Times
“One U.S. city has made a bold move by declaring “Meatless Mondays” in the name of health and the environment. City residents are encouraged not to eat meat on this day of the week and restaurants are encouraged to offer more vegetarian fare.’
Sara Jio for Glamour Health & Fitness
“Though meatlessness in Ghent once a week is encouraged rather than required, the policy has made vegetarianism pervasive: 95% of the city’s children at 35 local schools, as well as the city’s elected councillors and civil servants, embrace the Veggiedag menu each week.”
Katie Engelhart on Macleans.ca
“It’s a great way to reach out to people who might not be ready to consider going completely vegetarian but who are interested in healthy eating.”
David Alexander in The Toronto Star
“Every month we incorporate new best practices that are novel at first, then become an expectation. Meatless Mondays novel at first, but now everybody goes “oh, Monday, meatless.”
Tony Geraci in Change.org
“Readers might want to try going meatless one day a week. I’ve found a Web site that can help, Meatlessmonday.com, with lots of ideas for great healthful meals.”
Candace Hammond in Cape Code Times
“Meatless Monday, a global initiative to reduce meat consumption to improve both the health of individuals and the planet, is recognized as a day to enjoy garden varietals.”
Health Editor at The Independent
“I feel strongly that all schools in America need better food curriculum. Meatless Mondays caught my eye. The idea is that offering food that is lower in saturated fat once a week will force students to try new fruits, vegetables, and grains that they may grow to like.”
Editor of the Food Policy Alliance newletter
“I haven’t heard of the international movement Meatless Monday being introduced here, but it should be. My grandmother used to tell me meat wasn’t eaten as much in her day as it is now in Jamaica. Obesity is on the rise and many lifestyle diseases accompany it.”
Juicy Chef at Jamaica Observer
“If you can’t give up meat full time, consider going meatless once a week,” says Kerrie Saunders, PhD. “Every change matters. The better someone feels, the more likely they are to take the next step forward.”
Dr. Kerrie Saunders on Detroit Free Press
“In Baltimore, the whole public school system has gone meatless on Mondays – something Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer would like to see adopted in New York City.”
Lindsey Christ for NY1
“Veg-heads and veggie supporters can head to Meatless Monday for a bevy of meat-free recipes from breakfast (hello, baked sweet potato pancakes) to dinner and snacks in between.”
Umbra Fisk on Grist
“Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer, says the goal is not to promote vegetarianism or ban meat eating altogether, it’s a way to encourage kids to eat less meat and more vegetables.”
Amanda M. Fairbanks at GOOD Magazine
“Meatless Monday meals cost about 20 cents less than lunches with meat, leaving school food directors more to spend on better local and fresh ingredients the rest of the week.”
Bao Ong in The New York Times
“If you want to cut back on cholesterol and saturated fat, even an occasional vegetarian meal can help you meet your goals.”
Charlotte Suttan in tampabay.com
“The NYC DOE SchoolFood office should institute “Meatless Mondays,’ a public health awareness initiative launched by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.”
Aileen Gallagher in New York Magazine
“The aim of the program isn’t to eliminate meat or promote vegetarianismit’s about being healthy. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer says meatless meals are generally lower in saturated fat, which is important since one in five NY kindergarten students is considered obese.”
Sabrina Jaszi in Gothamist
“There are some folks who encourage you to go healthy for Mardi Gras. Meatless Monday points out that Carnival means “farewell to meat” and suggests you bid one with “delicious meatless options.”
Roy Edroso in The Village Voice
“We’re always looking for a new bandwagon to hop on, and our latest is Meatless Monday. This is a nationwide movement to get folks to take one day a week off from eating meat.”
Wo Fat in the Summit Daily News
“Environmentalists such as pop star Paul McCartney have called for Meatless Mondays, in which people lower their carbon footprint by going vegetarian at least one day a week.”
Wendy Koch in USA Today
“Many people believe they cannot change their diet, that it will be too difficult. If that’s you, start with one day a week. Try holding a “meatless Monday.”
iafrica.com (based in South Africa)
“If you simply can’t imagine not giving something up for the new year, be realistic and thoughtful about it. Consider Michael Pollan’s suggestion: one meatless day a week.”
Laurel Gladden in Santa Fe New Mexican
“This is a bold move for a Southern-born-and-raised cook. I plan my meals by first determining the meat, then adding the sides. This resolution will require me to change my whole way of thinking.”
Teri Bell in Savannah Now
“The snowstorm and interrupted slaughter schedules placed undo pressure on the struggling fed cattle market that was already reeling from sluggish beef demand, the dismal economy and Meatless Mondays.”
Gregg Harrison on the Cattle Network
“Sixty-two years later, the popular Meatless Monday campaign acknowledges Mr. Truman’s experiment but not its outcome. Could voluntary meat abstention on a national scale work this time around’
Michele Humes in The New York Times
“Meat buffs across the country are crying fowl at this ‘attack’ on their way of life, with facetious quips such as, ‘If we aren’t supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?’ But the school district, first in the country to introduce the system, has earned high praise from progressives for its effort to teach children about ‘their health and the health of their planet.”
Editors of The Times of India
“ABC News reported the Meatless Monday campaign in Baltimore’s schools has been a great success. Only a meathead – or a meat-industry shill – would brand this modest attempt to serve our kids healthier entrées and raise awareness about the environmental impact of our food choices as some kind of insidious conspiracy.’
Kerry Trueman on AlterNet
“Vegetarianism and Veganism too much to ask of your meat-loving family? Meatless Monday is a nonprofit with a mission to reduce meat consumption by 15% (one day a week) in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.’
Editors of PLAYGROUND
“Calverton middle school in West Baltimore has embraced Meatless Monday as an opportunity to teach kids about health and nutrition. In the science and health classes, teachers are talking about Meatless Monday in relation to the food pyramid.’
Eliza Barclay in The Atlantic
“…the Baltimore Public Schools’ meatless Monday move is a great idea!’
Matthew Wheeland on Reuters
“Meatless Mondays are meant to be both a money-saver and a nutritional boost. Vegetarian entrees like black bean nachos, eggplant Parmesan and baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese provide plenty of protein.’
Laura Vozzella in The Baltimore Sun
“Without more federal funds, Food Services Director for Baltimore Public Schools, Tony Geraci, says public schools will have to settle for incremental, if important, change. This year, Geraci is implementing Meatless Mondays to improve nutrition – and the bottom line.’
Jane Black in The Washington Post
“Baltimore’s Meatless Monday program gives kids a better shot at good health from nutritious food choices. This citywide move seems like a pretty significant step on the way to, dare I say it, “Greenest City in America.”
Vance Lehmkuhl on philly.com
“With an eye on obesity rates, Tony Geraci tweaked the school system’s nutritional standards, instituted Meatless Mondays and started a community garden sown by students!’
M. Burke on Smartgrid
“If you’re craving new recipes to take the place of your usual steak, the site features plenty that won’t have you missing meat!’
Alia Akkam in Organic Spa Magazine
“Now there’s an international movement for a Meatless Monday. While the motivations are environment and health, eating less meat is still a good way to save money.’
Teresa Mears on MSN
“Even one meatless day a week a meatless Monday, which is what we do in my household if everybody in America did that, that would be the equivalent of taking 20 million mid-size sedans off the road.”
Michael Pollan on Oprah’s Earth Day special
“For people who think that going totally vegetarian is too challenging, the Meatless Monday campaign offers a gentle entrée into the idea of eating without consuming animals.’
Kathy Freston on The Huffington Post
“I think incremental change, like what the folks are doing at Meatless Monday with Johns Hopkins, is the key to major transformation in the future.’
Kim O’Donnel on HOLLYWOOD! CLOUT With Richard Greene
“Meatless Monday puts the defense of the Earth’s fragile ecosystems and preservation of natural resources in the hands of ordinary citizens.’
Sara Brubaker at The Gainesville Sun
“The Meatless Monday website not only features statistics detailing the benefits of going meat-free, but it offers recipes and exercise tips to make it easy for participants.’
Elizabeth Holli Wood on the Tampa Examiner
“Meatless Monday offers people a powerful weekly cue to meaningful action. In his inaugural address, President Obama heralded a new era of responsibility. His call prompted man to ask: What can I do to help? One answer is Meatless Monday.’
Robert Lawrence on Change.org’s Sustainable Food blog
“Meatless Monday is not about becoming a vegetarian one day per week. It is about cutting saturated fat on that particular day by eliminating its major food sources, which will hopefully perpetuate a healthy message for the remainder of the week.’
Dina Aronson MS RD, in Today’s Dietitian
“Go meatless on Monday: even just one day a week makes a difference.’
Matthew McDermott on Treehugger
“Scientists estimate that if every American lowered meat consumption by just 20% it would lower greenhouse gasses as much as if everyone in the country switched to driving Toyota Priuses (and think how much cheaper and easier eating less meat is).’
Trystan L. Bass on Yahoo Green
“Meatless Monday has just released a video about the astonishing and rather surprising effect we can have on this planet by making one day a week a meatless day.’
Maggie LaBarbara, dietician & founder of Thoughts Blog
“Foregoing meat once a week is actually a sound idea. And while some health goals take work, this one is painless. At least once this week, think chickpeas instead of chicken, bean stew instead of beef steak and spaghetti sans meatballs.’
Claudia Zapata in San Express
“Going vegetarianism one day a week is a good beginning’once someone realizes how good vegetarian dishes can be, they are more likely to eat them. It’s not about deprivation, but rather celebration.’
Dr Andrew Weil, Founder, Program Director, Interactive Medicine, University of Arizona, in Arizona Republic
“Meatless Monday benefits our nation’s health, economy, and environment. The recipes chosen will convince you that deprivation is not part of the Meatless Monday program.’
Barb Randall in the Lake Oswego Review
