Healthy Lifestyle Challenge #17 – Go Meatless!

I hope you are having a great weekend – I’ve managed to get a ton of stuff done around the house and I even did a bit of marking – crazy, I know!!

I’m giving you TOMORROW’S CHALLENGE today because it might need a bit of thought and planning – here it is…

Go meatless today.

Why?

Going meatless just once a week can decrease your risk many chronic preventable diseases like:

• CANCER – studies suggest that people who eat diets low in meat are less likely to develop cancer and daily meat eaters are about 3 times more likely to develop colon cancer.

• CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE – studies done at Harvard University have found that eating both red meat and processed meats (sausage, bacon, and deli meats) increases your risk of developing heart disease and atherosclerosis as well as having a stroke.

• DIABETES – research suggests that eating greater amounts of red and processed meats increases your risk of Type 2 diabetes

• OBESITY – People on low meat or vegetarian diets tend to have lower body weights and body mass indicies. A recent study found that reducing overall meat consumption can prevent long-term weight gain.

How?

It’s easy – just eat meat-free meals and snacks today!

Here are some great ideas:

Breakfast:

1. Greek yogurt and berries
2. fruit smoothie
3. vegetarian omelet
4. oatmeal

Snacks:

1. hard boiled egg
2. mixed nuts
3. crackers and cheese
4. veggies and hummus
5. apple slices with almond butter
6. click here for more ideas

Lunch:

1. tossed salad
2. egg salad sandwich
3. veggie burger
4. click here for more ideas

Dinner:

1. vegetable stir-fry
2. stuffed peppers
3. pasta with fresh veggies
4. click here for more ideas

Share your favourite meatless monday meal in the comments section below!