Go meatless to improve your health and your budget

Going vegetarian can help your health and your wallet. If you can't stand the thought of going without meat permanently, consider choosing just one day a week to go meatless for all your meals. Studies show that going without meat one day a week can reduce your risk of several diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and even cancer.

Meatless Monday started during World War I as part of the home front effort. It was faithfully followed by millions of patriotic families. "Food Will Win the War," the government advertised. Recipes and menus were distributed in booklets, newspapers, magazines and pamphlets to help families with their efforts. During World War II, the practice was revived to help feed war-ravaged nations where food was scarce.

Since 2003, Meatless Monday has become a national public health initiative associated with Johns Hopkins to reduce the risk of preventable illnesses. One perk for giving up a day of meat every week is that you'll save at the supermarket. Meat is usually the most expensive part of a grocery budget. People often purchase less expensive cuts of meat to save money during tough economic times, but it may be smarter to simply cut meat one day a week to avoid sacrificing quality.

If improving your health and saving some money aren't enough to convince you, going meatless for a day each week is also good for the environment. Author and foodie Michael Pollan says that if everyone in the U.S. would go meatless one day a week, "that would be the equivalent of taking 20 million mid-size sedans off the road."

For recipe ideas to implement Meatless Monday in your home, check out these recipes on Meatless Monday and Allrecipes.com.

Do you observe Meatless Monday in your house? How much has it saved you?

Photo courtesy avlxyz, via Flickr.