Stay lean and green this semester with Meatless Mondays

Starting college can be an exciting yet daunting experience. It’s not surprising that with all the stress that comes with it, some new students gain the dreaded Freshman 15. A study published in Nutrition Journal found that nearly a quarter of freshmen gain at least 5 percent of their body weight during their first semester, an average of about 10 pounds in just a few months.   

In an effort to help students look and feel great, the movement toward offering more plant-based meals is taking root on college campuses nationwide. In fact, there are about 200 universities leading the change with Meatless Mondays in their dining halls. 

Why take a weekly holiday from meat? In recent decades, our meat consumption has increased dramatically — along with our waistlines, blood pressure and cholesterol. 

Eating healthier plant-based meals not only helps our physical health, but it also lightens our carbon footprint.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, animal agriculture is “one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.” 

Factory farms — where nearly all of our meat comes from  —  are major culprits in climate change. These animal factories create huge amounts of manure that pollute the soil, water and air. 

Thankfully, it’s never been easier to take a positive step toward safeguarding our health while also protecting the planet and helping animals. Choosing simple, delicious options once a week can make a big difference. How about swapping those chicken nuggets with meat-free nuggets, or choosing veggie and bean burritos instead of carnitas burritos? Eating out is easy, too. With options like Chipotle Mexican Grill and Denny’s serving up hearty meat-free fare and with Indian, Thai and Mexican restaurants that regularly offer delicious, plant-based dishes, the options are endless.

Bon appétit! 

Eddie Garza is a food policy coordinator for The Humane Society of the United States.