Something for Everyone

By Sue Sedlazek

There are generally three types of reactions I get when the topic of Meatless Mondays comes up.

The first is the enthusiastic “Awesome!” which is a good indication that the person I’m talking with already eats along the veg continuum.  Whether vegan, vegetarian or veg-inclined, these people need no encouragement to cut out meat because they’re already doing it.  Still they are glad to hear about restaurants putting more emphasis on veg cuisine.  For these people, Meatless Monday means a more supportive community where they are welcome and valued.  It also gives them a great excuse to invite their friends out to eat!

The second type of reaction I get comes from the veg-curious – people who for one reason or another have thought about eating more vegetarian dishes but haven’t been able to break the meat habit.  They’re a lot like the people who wait until New Year’s Day to go on a diet.  They want to do it, but they need some occasion to get going.  For this group of people, Meatless Mondays are the perfect incentive, with New Year’s Day rolling around once a week.

My friend Rodney falls in this category.  He’s been talking about going vegetarian for the last year but just hasn’t gotten motivated enough to dive in.  So I was thrilled to read his Facebook post last Monday:  “Starting Meatless Monday today…trying to move to a vegetarian diet…one day at a time...” For people like Rodney, a public campaign like Meatless Monday can be a big motivating factor by generating that sense of community where “we’re all in this together.”

The third type of reaction usually comes with an expression of mock horror.  “Meatless Monday!  Why on Earth would I ever want to do that?”  Often these pronouncements are followed with a bit of good-natured ribbing about vegetarian diets, or even some genuine concerns about going without meat.  What about protein?  Iron?  Taste?   I welcome these reactions, because if nothing else, they open the door to a conversation.  And almost always, after the jokes and veg-bashing have been exhausted, we actually spend a few minutes talking seriously about the whys and hows of reducing consumption  of animal products.  Invariably, after a respectful exchange of opinions, these certifiable carnivores almost always end up acknowledging that, just maybe, there are benefits to cutting back on meat.  Mind you, I don’t expect these people to jump right on board with Meatless Mondays, but I know they are now thinking a little more about it.  And with the growing availability of delicious vegetarian options nowadays, they may just be tempted to give it a try.