The Great American Meatout
MARCH 20 IS THE GREAT AMERICAN MEATOUT
Meatout is an international observance helping individuals evolve to a wholesome, compassionate diet of fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds and the tasty variety of dishes made from them . The purpose is to expose the public to the joys and benefits of a plant-based diet, while promoting the alternatives to meat and dairy in mainstream grocery stores, restaurants, and catering operations. It is organized by F.A.R.M., Farm Animal Rights Movement.
Meatout has grown explosively since its inception in 1985 to become the world’s largest annual grassroots diet education campaign. Thousands of caring people in all 50 U.S. states and a host of other countries welcome Spring with colorful educational events. These range from simple information tables, exhibits, and cooking demonstrations to elaborate receptions and festivals. People are asked to “kick the meat habit ” on March 20 (first day of spring) for at least that day – with the hope of continuing to move toward a vegan diet. A vegan eats no animal flesh (whether mammal, fowl or fish) and no animal products
(notably dairy and eggs).
Several mainstream health advocacy organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, JohnsHopkinsUniversity, and the American Heart Association, have since launched
their own campaigns to promote consumption of plant-based foods.
Why Meatout?
“Kicking the meat habit” holds lasting benefits for consumer health, world hunger, resource conservation, environmental quality, and animal protection.
Kicking the meat habit reduces our risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases that cripple and kill nearly 1.4 million Americans annually.
Kicking the meat habit decreases our exposure to infectious pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter, which kill several thousand Americans annually and sicken millions more.
Kicking the meat habit frees up grains and other foods that can be used to feed the world’s hungry. Animals are extremely inefficient “protein converters;” it can take up to 16 pounds of grain to make 1
pound of beef.
Kicking the meat habit preserves our topsoil, water, and other food production resources vital to the survival of our children and their children.
Kicking the meat habit protects our forests, grasslands, and other wildlife habitats from encroachment by cattle ranchers while reducing the polluting effects of methane, soil particles, manure, and pesticides on our air and water.
Kicking the meat habit saves animals from caging, crowding, deprivation, drugging, mutilation, manhandling, and agonizing slaughter. Each person who adopts a plant-based diet saves over 80
innocent, sentient animals each year. Over a lifetime, an individual can save more than 6,000 animals just by going vegan.
Is it time to begin your journey to healthy, compassionate eating? You can sign-up for “Meatout Mondays,” at www.meatoutmondays.org/regForm.php. You will receive in your inbox each week a vegan recipe, spotlight on a vegan product, a summary of a health study, and an inspiring story about an activist.
If you want hard copy of information about moving toward a vegan way of eating (including recipes), contact me at Linda A. DeStefano, President, People for Animal Rights, P.O. Box 15358, Syracuse
13215-0358, (315)488-PURR(7877) between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. or LDESTEFANO3@twcny.rr.com
