Meatout!

Well, this is going to be an exciting week. Other than the fact that tomorrow I turn the page to a new year of life, spring is finally on the horizon, and this coming Friday is the Great American Meatout! In fact, it is the 25th anniversary of the Meatout. Woohoo! You can learn more about the annual event here.

I'm nearing the 10 year anniversary of my own vegetarianism, and want to share the love with the world this coming Friday. Give it a whirl - go meat free for a day (or longer!) and see how it suits you. This year it is handy that March 20 falls on a Friday, so Lenten no meat Friday followers can partake as well. From the website, here are some of my favorite reasons for going meat free: 

Kicking the meat habit holds lasting benefits for consumer health, world hunger, resource conservation, environmental equality, and animal protection. Some include:

• reducing your risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and chronic diseases
• decreasing your exposure to infectious pathogens (i.e. salmonella and e. coli)
• raising your energy level, lowering your food budget, and simplifying meal prep and clean-up
• freeing up grains and other foods that can be used to feed the world's hungry
• preserving the topsoil, water and food production resources vital to the futures of your children and their children
• protecting forests, grasslands and other wildlife habitats from encroachment by cattle ranchers, also reducing the polluting effects of methane, manure, soil particles and pesticides in your air and water
• saving animals from crowding, deprivation, caging, manhandling, drugging, mutilation and slaughter
• finally, by going meat free each individual can save over 80 animals a year - over a lifetime, this adds up to 6,000 animals

More than a few good reasons to try out a veggie diet! Give it a whirl this Friday.

(facts courtesy of www.meatout.org)