Hill Health Magazine Winter 2010

A properly planned vegetarian diet is good for you and good for the environment, but you can benefit even without giving up meat forever.

Start a “Meatless Monday” tradition in your household. By eating vegetarian meals just one day a week, you’ll cut your family’s saturated fat intake by 15 percent. You’ll reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and certain cancers, and you’ll take in beneficial nutrients and fiber by replacing meat with whole grains and fresh produce. Beans, nuts, lentils, brown rice and vegetables are just some of your meatless options.

Because raising cows, pigs and chickens requires much more water and fossil fuels than growing vegetables, you also conserve resources and lighten environmental impact when you cut back on meat.

For your first meatless Monday, try the simple Mint Carrot Ginger Soup recipe, paired with a whole-grain roll and a side salad – and browse our Recipe Index for additional meatless menu options.

More information: Carrot Soup with Mint and Ginger | Vegan Quesadillas | Zucchini Lasagna | Browse our Recipe Index for more vegetarian and vegan meal ideas | More about Meatless Monday