Meatless Monday: Standing Up for Your Beliefs and Values

We have all jumped on the "Meatless Monday" bandwagon, right?  Errr..wait. Those that follow people such as Michael Pollan and Oprah Winfrey may have jumped onto this bandwagon have.

Scientists, dieticians, environmentalists have all tried to push for "Meatless Monday".   Todaysdietician.com states that, "semivegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, and vegan women have a lower risk of overweight and obesity than do omnivorous women..."   Even those of us that eat meat are semivegetarian.  We still include fruit and veggies in our daily diet.  Since everyone falls under one of those categories we are all in a lower risk for health issues .

The Meatless Monday website has the objective to reduce consumer risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.  They state there is a whole list of medical and environmental  reasons to reduce your meat consumption.

Meat has been a staple diets for years and the health conditions have been minimal.  What has changed from even 50 years ago?  SAD - the Standard American Diet has changed.  Today, it is easy, fast and convenient to drive-through, eat an unbalanced diet of greasy, high fat, high carbohydrate, low fruits, and low vegetables diet.  No, the tomato or onion on your McDonald's burger isn't enough.


Even the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends eating protein in the form of meat in your daily diet.  The promote a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruit along with meat (protein), gains and dairy.  Many meat choices are healthy, lean cuts that increase your health and can aid in weight loss.

There is no scientific evidence that raising animals for meat consumption is too harmful for the environment.  It doesn't take any more water to raise one pound of beef than it does to water a golf course.  And you still choose to golf, right?  Another argument is that raising animals increases greenhouse gas emissions.  Although there are emissions such as methane and carbon dioxide, this is part of animal production.  You are contributing to greenhouse gas emissions everyday you drive your vehicle - especially is you are not using ethanol!

In Nebraska, agriculture including animal production contributes to jobs - nearly 90% of jobs in Nebraska are related to agriculture, economic growth, increased tax revenue, rural development and more. Many rural communities wouldn't exist and we wouldn't be able to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet if it wasn't for animal production.

It is time to rethink "Meatless Monday" Even the student government body at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently turned down the request for "Meatless Monday".  The health and environmental reasons stated for "Meatless Monday" do not stand up to the facts and science behind SAD and raising animals.