Cartoon: Donald Ashwood
The cafeteria recently began a Meatless Monday campaign.
Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative aimed at providing information and recipes to start each week with healthy and environmentally-friendly meat-free alternatives, according to meatlessmonday.com.
By cutting meat out of our diets once a week, we can improve our health, reduce our carbon footprint and help reduce climate change, according to the website.
Following the campaign’s goals, the cafeteria has made efforts to reduce the amount of meat offered.
There are meat-free food options in the “classics” and “exhibition” lines on Mondays in the cafeteria.
Pledging to go “meatless” for one day is something students should try.
Reducing the amount of meat we consume, especially red and processed meats, is healthier for our diets. By doing so, we can reduce cancer risks and heart disease, combat diabetes, curb obesity, and live longer, according to the Meatless Monday website.
“It is very easy to get enough protein in our diets without eating red meat,” said Valerie Robinson, wellness coordinator.
Healthier alternatives include poultry, fish, nuts, combining beans and rice, and a variety of other plant based protein sources, she said.
For students who do not wish to participate in Meatless Monday, there still are meat options in the remaining food lines.
Students should eat healthier, whether by reducing red meat or consuming a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables.
The meat-free Monday is just one of the many options that students can explore for a healthier lifestyle.
This article initially appeared in the March 2 issue of The Campus newspaper. Editorials are authored by the Student Publications Editorial Board.
The point of Meatless Monday is not just to eliminate red meat, but ALL meat (i.e poultry and fish too!) Thus the above article inaccurately portrays this message.