Meatless Month Challenge – January 2012

To start the year off to a healthier start, I’ve decided to challenge myself to a month without meat!  From January 1-30, your girl will go without meat.  A vegetarian diet is something that I’ve done temporarily before, and my body truly enjoys the break.  However, I have no plans to be anti-meat.  I do enjoy seafood and certain particular dishes that include other meats like beef, pork, chicken & lamb.  I would like to maintain a pescetarian (includes seafood only) diet that is mostly vegetarian.   So starting the year off without meat will be a great kick-start to this lifestyle change.

One thing I enjoy about a vegetarian diet is expanding my horizons with foods.  People get bent out of shape when you talk about not eating meat - but the reality is that meat makes up a small portion of the vast amount of foods out there to eat.  I find that I’m always inspired to try new and different things when I take meat out of the equation.  For example, for lunch today I had warm whole wheat mini pitas with tomato & basil hummus to dip the pitas in.  I paired it with a small salad of persian cucumbers & mini heirloom tomatoes.  Without meat, this meal was filling, delicious, and colorful.

Thinking about giving meat a break?  Then join the challenge with me!  Can’t imagine going a month without your favorite meats?  Try eliminating meat from your diet just one day a week – maybe a Meatless Monday.  This will give you an opportunity to explore your meatless options for meals without taking you too far out of your comfort zone.