Meatless Monday

In the Greek island of Crete, the tradition of consuming legumes every Monday is deeply ingrained, with meat traditionally considered inappropriate to eat on this day. This aligns with the religious observance of Clean Monday in Greece, marking the start of Lent and emphasizing purity, including abstinence from meat. Monday was traditionally seen as a day to "purify the body" after the consumption of meat on Sunday, which was traditionally the only day of the week when meat was consumed. This practice fits well with the Meat Free Monday initiative, reflecting Crete's traditional diet where vegetables and legumes dominate (70% of intake), while meat (10%) and fish and seafood (20%) are less commonly consumed.{{Cite book |last=Psilakis |first=Nikos |title=CRETAN COOKING: The miracle of the Cretan diet|isbn=9607448111}}

This culinary tradition aligns with cultural and religious practices aimed at improving health and minimising environmental impact.

During World War I, US President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling for every Tuesday to be meatless and for one meatless meal to be observed every day, for a total of nine meatless meals each week.{{cite news |last= Wilson |first= Woodrow |author-link= Woodrow Wilson |date= January 18, 1918 |title= President's Proclamation Calling Upon People of Nation to Reduce Consumption of Wheat and Meat Products in Order to Feed America's Associates in the War |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LW49AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PR10 |editor-last= Rochester |editor-first= Edward S. |newspaper= Official Bulletin |volume= 2 |issue= 219 |location= Washington, D.C. |publisher= United States Committee on Public Information |publication-date= January 28, 1918 |page= 3 |quote= In both homes and public eating places, in order to reduce the consumption of beef, pork, and sheep products, Tuesday should be observed as meatless day in each week, one meatless meal should be observed in each day, while, in addition, Saturday in each week should further be observed as a day upon which there should be no consumption of pork products. |access-date= March 13, 2016 |archive-date= June 18, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200618193714/https://books.google.com/books?id=LW49AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PR10 |url-status= live }} The United States Food Administration (USFA) urged families to reduce consumption of key staples to help the war effort and avoid rationing. Conserving food would support U.S. troops as well as feed populations in Europe where food production and distribution had been disrupted by the war. To encourage voluntary rationing, the USFA created the slogan "Food Will Win the War" and coined the terms "Meatless Tuesday" and "Wheatless Wednesday" to remind Americans to reduce intake of those products.{{cite web |url=http://www.ecommcode.com/hoover/hooveronline/hoover_bio/archive/food/wheat.htm |title=Wheatless Wednesdays |publisher=Hoover Museum – Digital Archives |access-date=December 31, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911213710/http://www.ecommcode.com/hoover/hooveronline/hoover_bio/archive/food/wheat.htm |archive-date=September 11, 2013 }}

Herbert Hoover was the head of the Food Administration as well as the American Relief Association during Woodrow Wilson's presidency, and played a key role implementing the campaign, which was one of Hoover's many attempts to encourage volunteerism and sacrifice among Americans during the war. The USFA provided a wide variety of materials in addition to advertising, including recipe books and menus found in magazines, newspapers and government-sponsored pamphlets.{{Cite web |url=http://exhibits.mannlib.cornell.edu/meatlesswheatless/images/large/Foods%20That%20Will%20Win%20115.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 13, 2009 |archive-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711210712/http://exhibits.mannlib.cornell.edu/meatlesswheatless/images/large/Foods%20That%20Will%20Win%20115.jpg |url-status=live }}

The campaign returned with the onset of World War II, calling upon women on the home front to play a role in supporting the war effort. During this time, meat was being rationed, along with other commodities like sugar and gasoline.{{cite web |url=http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1674.html |title=World War II Rationing |publisher=U-s-history.com |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=May 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531000246/http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1674.html |url-status=live }} The Truman administration, through the Citizens Food Committee, encouraged "Meatless Tuesdays" and "Poultryless Thursdays" throughout the autumn of 1947; backlash was swift, noncompliance was rampant, and the poultry lobby responded with the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, the forerunner of the modern "turkey pardon."{{cite web |last=Humes |first=Michele |url=https://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/the-way-we-ate-the-year-harry-truman-passed-on-pumpkin-pie/ |title=The Way We Ate: The Year Harry Truman Passed on Pumpkin Pie |work=Dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com |date=November 23, 2009 |access-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-date=May 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507123241/https://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/the-way-we-ate-the-year-harry-truman-passed-on-pumpkin-pie/ |url-status=live }}

Meatless Monday is part of the Healthy Monday initiative.{{cite web |url=http://www.healthymonday.org/ |title=Healthy Monday |publisher=Healthy Monday |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=April 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410095534/http://www.mondaycampaigns.org/ |url-status=live }} The program follows the nutrition guidelines developed by the USDA.{{cite web |url=http://www.mypyramid.gov/ |title=United States Department of Agriculture – Home |publisher=MyPyramid.gov |date=March 24, 2010 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070726014831/http://www.mypyramid.gov/ |archive-date=July 26, 2007 }} Healthy Monday encourages Americans to make healthier decisions at the start of every week. Other Healthy Monday campaigns include: The Kids Cook Monday, Monday 2000, Quit and Stay Quit Monday, Move it Monday, The Monday Mile, and others.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Meatless Monday focuses its initiative on Mondays for several reasons. Wednesday and Friday are traditionally days for fasting among Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Monday is typically the beginning of the work week, the day when individuals settle back into their weekly routine. Habits that prevailed over the weekend can be forgotten and replaced by other choices.{{cite web |url= http://www.mondaycampaigns.org/about/research/ |title= The Science behind The Monday Campaigns |website= The Monday Campaigns |quote= Health promotions at the beginning of the week have the potential to reduce negative health events. There's a spike in heart problems, occupational injuries, strokes, suicides and referrals to secondary care on Monday, which researchers believe is caused by stress, unhealthy weekend behaviors and disruption of sleep cycles. |access-date= March 21, 2014 |archive-date= February 23, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140223175436/http://www.mondaycampaigns.org/about/research/ |url-status= live }} A weekly reminder to restart healthy habits also encourages success. A 2009 trial published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine provided individuals with weekly health prompts and encouragement. Approximately two thirds of participants responded with improvements in their overall health, eating habits and physical activity levels.{{cite news |last=Colliver |first=Victoria |title=Trial: E-nagging can increase healthy activity |url=https://www.sfgate.com/health/article/trial-e-nagging-can-increase-healthy-activity-3297934.php |access-date=2025-01-12 |work=SFGate |date=2009-05-19}} Monday was also chosen for being alliterative with "Meatless" (cf. Taco Tuesday and other similar day-specific campaigns).{{Cite web|date=2021-12-17|title=What Would Happen If Everyone Stopped Eating Meat One Day a Week?|url=https://www.rd.com/article/no-meat-once-a-week/#:~:text=Because%20items%20like%20meat%20were,vegetarian%2C'%E2%80%9D%20Bazilian%20says.|access-date=2022-04-18|website=Reader's Digest}}

On April 6, 2010, San Francisco became the first city in the United States to officially declare Mondays to be "meat free", calling it their Vegetarian Day. Several other countries have meat-free days as well, including Canada.{{Cite web|url=https://vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/plant-based-plates/|title=Plant-Based Plates|access-date=October 1, 2020|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004150604/https://vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/plant-based-plates/|url-status=live}}

Meat-free Mondays exist in the United Kingdom both as an advertising campaign for Goodlife Foods and as an environmental campaign.{{cite web |url=http://www.goodlife.co.uk/index.htm |title=Goodlife Vegetarian Foods: Home Page |publisher=Goodlife.co.uk |access-date=May 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815113841/http://www.goodlife.co.uk/index.htm |archive-date=August 15, 2009 }} On June 15, 2009 Paul McCartney and his daughters Stella and Mary launched a Meat-free Monday campaign.

In 2017, the Casa Rosada of Argentina instituted, for one lunch of the day, meat-free Mondays, serving only vegan options to its approximately 500 employees, including Argentinian President Mauricio Macri.{{cite news|author=A.L.|title=Argentina's vegan Mondays|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2017/10/economist-explains-13|newspaper=The Economist|date=October 19, 2017|access-date=October 19, 2017|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019134225/https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2017/10/economist-explains-13|url-status=live}}

In May 2009, the city of Ghent, Belgium became the first city with "official" weekly vegetarian days. Veggie Thursday (or "Donderdag Veggiedag" in Dutch) was created by the Ethical Vegetarian Alternative, an organisation partially funded by the Flemish government.{{cite web |url=http://www.vegetarisme.be/ |title=Actueel • EVA, verleidelijk vegetarisch |publisher=Vegetarisme.be |date=2010-04-05 |access-date=2010-05-05 |archive-date=June 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621224042/http://www.vegetarisme.be/ |url-status=live }}

In October 2009, Meatless Monday was launched in São Paulo with government support by the Brazilian Vegetarian Society.{{cite web|url=http://www.segundasemcarne.com.br/Segunda|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101014752/http://www.segundasemcarne.com.br/Segunda|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 1, 2013|title=Segunda Sem Carne agora é lei no DF|work=segundasemcarne.com.br}} In December 2009, Meatless Mondays launched in Australia.{{cite web |url=http://meatlessmondays-australia.com |title=Meatless Mondays Australia |publisher=Meatless Mondays Australia |date=April 26, 2010 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505115748/http://meatlessmondays-australia.com/ |url-status=live }}

Israeli magazine Al Hashulchan (On the Table) introduced the Sheni Tzimchoni (Vegetarian Monday) initiative in June 2009. Dozens of Israel's top restaurants will create innovative meatless meals on Mondays throughout July and August 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.hashulchan.co.il/Index.asp?ArticleID=12763&CategoryID=346&Page=1|title=על השולחן – בישול, אוכל, מתכונים|publisher=Hashulchan.co.il|access-date=2010-05-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201213610/http://www.hashulchan.co.il/Index.asp?ArticleID=12763&CategoryID=346&Page=1|archive-date=2009-12-01}}

Meatless Mondays is related to efforts to add daily vegetarian and vegan school meals.

Committed engagement in Meatless Mondays has been associated with a higher likelihood of adopting a vegetarian diet. A 2021 study found that one-third of participants who continually partook in Meatless Monday became vegetarian after 5 years.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-02|title=A Third of Meat Free Monday Participants Go Vegetarian, New Study Finds|url=https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/meat-free-monday-vegetarian-study/|access-date=2021-09-06|website=Green Queen|archive-date=September 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906231130/https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/meat-free-monday-vegetarian-study/|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal|date=2021-11-01|title=Beyond 'Meat Free Monday': A mixed method study of giving up eating meat|url=http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/99428/1/deVisser_etal_inPress_MFM.pdf|journal=Appetite|volume=166|pages=105463|doi=10.1016/j.appet.2021.105463|issn=0195-6663|last1=De Visser|first1=Richard O.|last2=Barnard|first2=Suzanne|last3=Benham|first3=Daniel|last4=Morse|first4=Rachel|pmid=34153423|s2cid=235477098|access-date=September 6, 2021}}

An attempt by the Greens in Brighton, England, to initiate Meat-Free Mondays, thereby stopping the local council cafeteria selling any meat-based foods, was halted after opposition from council staff.{{cite news |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9165595.Brighton_and_Hove_binmen_get____meat_free_Monday____the_chop/ |title=Brighton and Hove binmen get 'meat-free Monday' the chop |publisher=Brighton Argus |date=July 28, 2011 |access-date=September 3, 2011 |archive-date=October 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009125219/http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9165595.Brighton_and_Hove_binmen_get____meat_free_Monday____the_chop/ |url-status=live }}

• Woman's Day magazine has included Meatless Monday on their monthly recipe calendar since 2004. Each menu offers healthy meal options for four and includes a set weekly shopping list.{{cite web |url=http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Food/Month-of-Menus!.html |title=Month of Menus at WomansDay.com – Daily Recipes and Shopping List |publisher=Womansday.com |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=May 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517074158/http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Food/Month-of-Menus!.html |url-status=live }}
• From September 2008 to July 2009, Kim O'Donnel, a food journalist and trained cook, offered weekly Meatless Monday recipes in her Washington Post column "A Mighty Appetite".{{cite news |author=Kim ODonnel |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/mighty-appetite/meatless_monday/ |title=A Mighty Appetite Archive by Category |publisher=Voices.washingtonpost.com |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122070741/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/mighty-appetite/meatless_monday/ |url-status=dead }}
• The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food, written in March 2009 by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson acknowledged Meatless Monday as a way to reduce meat consumption and improve overall health.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
• Articles regarding Meatless Monday have been published by several authors in The Huffington Post since April 2009. Notable contributor Kathy Freston is author of several self-help & wellness books, including The Quantum Wellness Cleanse.{{cite news | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/search.php/?q=Meatless+Monday | title=Search Results for Meatless Monday | work=The Huffington Post | access-date=February 20, 2020 | archive-date=September 25, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925010008/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/search.php/?q=Meatless+Monday | url-status=live }}
• In his book In Defense of Food, journalist Michael Pollan coined the phrase "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." He has since cited Meatless Monday as a way to reach this goal. So in April 2009 Pollan expressed the need for Americans to reduce meat consumption on The Oprah Winfrey Show: "even one meatless day a week—a Meatless Monday, which is what we do in our household—if everybody in America did that, that would be the equivalent of taking 20 million mid-size sedans off the road."{{cite web |url=http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090422-tows-pollan-omnivore/2 |title=Michael Pollan – Omnivore's Dilemma – Environment and Food |publisher=Oprah.com |date=April 22, 2009 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=April 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426201058/http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090422-tows-pollan-omnivore/2 |url-status=live }}
• Carole Carson, author and spokeswoman for AARP's "Fat 2 Fit" challenge, began offering Meatless Monday recipes to AARP's online community in June 2009.{{cite web |last=Carson |first=Carole |url=http://www.aarp.org/health/healthyliving/fat2fit/ |title=Fat 2 Fit |publisher=Aarp.org |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=May 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506001624/http://www.aarp.org/health/healthyliving/fat2fit/ |url-status=live }}
• In June 2009, the film Food, Inc. listed Meatless Monday as one of the 10 Things You Can Do To Change Our Food System.{{cite web|url=http://www.foodincmovie.com/img/downloads/food_inc_5x7_v3.jpg|title=TakePart – Stories That Matter, Actions That Count|website=www.foodincmovie.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010155102/http://www.foodincmovie.com/img/downloads/food_inc_5x7_v3.jpg|archive-date=October 10, 2009}}
• Also in June 2009 leading recipe site Epicurious teamed up with NutritionData.com to start offering weekly Meatless Monday recipes.{{cite web |url=http://www.nutritiondata.com/topics/recipes |title=Healthy dinner recipes with nutrition facts |publisher=Nutritiondata.com |access-date=May 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420164134/http://www.nutritiondata.com/topics/recipes |archive-date=April 20, 2010 }}
• In July 2009, The Huffington Post Green began a weekly Meatless Monday recipe column. The articles are written by nationally syndicated columnist Ellen Kanner, The Edgy Veggie.{{cite web |url=http://www.ellen-ink.com/ |title=|||| Ellen Kanner |||| |publisher=Ellen-ink.com |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=March 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303172549/http://www.ellen-ink.com/ |url-status=live }}
• Baltimore City Public Schools began a system-wide Meatless Monday program in 2009. The initiative also includes health education and produce from local sources. BCPS's efforts were acknowledged by Johns Hopkins University in September 2009, when they were given the Center for a Livable Future Award.{{cite web |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bal-md.gr.lunch24sep24,0,1379910.story |title=Eat Hearty, Local |publisher=Baltimore Sun |date=September 24, 2009 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008202534/https://www.baltimoresun.com/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/press_releases/2009/clf_event_farm |title=Baltimore City Public Schools Honored for Healthy Menu |publisher=Jhsph.edu |date=September 29, 2009 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |archive-date=October 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007051651/http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/press_releases/2009/clf_event_farm |url-status=live }}
• In December 2009, Al Gore formally endorsed the Meatless Monday campaign before EU Parliament. Gore now lists Meatless Monday as one of the Top 12 Things You Can Do Now for a better world on his Climate Crisis blog.{{cite web |url= http://www.climatecrisis.net/twelve-things-to-do.php |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101005075230/http://climatecrisis.net/twelve-things-to-do.php |archive-date= October 5, 2010 |title= 12 Things To Do |publisher= TakePart |quote= Try Meatless Mondays}}
• Former Manhattan borough president Scott Stringer proposed that all New York City public schools switch to Meatless Monday in his Food NYC report on February 17, 2010.{{cite web |last= Stringer |first= Scott M. |author-link= Scott Stringer |url= http://www.mbpo.org/uploads/foodnyc.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130906194745/http://urbanomnibus.net/redux/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/foodnyc.pdf |archive-date= September 6, 2013 |title= FoodNYC: A Blueprint for a Sustainable Food System |date= February 2010 |page= 24 |quote= Institute Meatless Mondays in City Schools}} Several NYC schools have followed the recommendation.{{cite web |last=Christ |first=Lindsey |url=http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/top_stories/114462/charter-school-cuts-the-fat--urges-others-to-join |title=Manhattan School Cuts The Fat; Urges Others To Join |publisher=NY1 |date=March 1, 2010 |access-date=December 31, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104091727/http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/top_stories/114462/charter-school-cuts-the-fat--urges-others-to-join |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}
• The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a Meatless Monday resolution on April 6, 2010, to "encourage restaurants, schools and grocery stores to offer plant-based options".{{cite web |last=Tyler |first=Carolyn |url=https://abc7news.com/archive/7370993/ |title=San Francisco supervisors approve meat-free Mondays |publisher=KGO-TV |date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=December 31, 2011 |archive-date=January 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103054732/http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Fsan_francisco&id=7370993 |url-status=live }}
• On April 12, 2010, The Johns Hopkins Hospital launched Meatless Monday in their cafeteria.
• ABC Family's teen TV Series 10 Things I Hate About You aired an episode called "Meat is Murder" on April 19, 2010, where one of the lead characters, Kat, convinces her student council to launch Meatless Mondays in their high school cafeteria.{{cite web |title={{-'}}Meat Is Murder' 10 Things I Hate About You |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1610535/ |website=IMDb |date=19 April 2010}}
• Chef Mario Batali unveiled Meatless Monday menus in all 14 of his restaurants in April 2010. Each menu now includes two weekly features.{{cite news |last=Elam |first=Chris |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-elam/mario-batali-meatless-mon_b_557589.html |title=Meatless Mondays: Even Mario Batali's Doing It |publisher=Huffington Post |date=May 3, 2010 |access-date=December 31, 2011 |archive-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421072011/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-elam/mario-batali-meatless-mon_b_557589.html |url-status=live }}
• The Washington Post reported on the international growth of the campaign on May 19, 2010. The article details the rising Meatless Monday movement and the meat industry's reaction.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/18/AR2010051800891.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Meatless Mondays, a movement that has legs | first=Jane | last=Black | date=May 19, 2010 | access-date=October 30, 2017 | archive-date=December 3, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203180014/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/18/AR2010051800891.html | url-status=live }}
• Fox News' Sunday Housecall with Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld aired a segment featuring Meatless Monday on July 25, 2010. He stated that recent studies showed meat consumption can impede weight loss. Dr. Rosenfeld presents a Healthy Monday tip on his show each week.{{cite news | url=http://video.foxnews.com/v/4293311/healthy-monday-tip | work=Fox News | date=September 29, 2010 | title=Healthy Monday Tip – Fox News Video – Fox News | access-date=August 25, 2010 | archive-date=July 29, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729222113/http://video.foxnews.com/v/4293311/healthy-monday-tip | url-status=live }}
• On August 9, 2010, NPR conducted an interview with Sid Lerner, the founder of the Meatless Monday campaign, about the growing public awareness and support.{{cite news |last=Aubrey |first=Allison |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129025298 |title=Campaign Aims To Make Meatless Mondays Hip |newspaper=NPR.org |publisher=NPR |date=August 9, 2010 |access-date=December 31, 2011 |archive-date=January 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102050406/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129025298 |url-status=live }}
• TIME magazine profiled six chefs that are creating flexitarian dishes in their August 23, 2010 issue. Included were Meatless Monday supporters Mario Batali, Wolfgang Puck and John Fraser.{{cite magazine| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2010187,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820115232/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2010187,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 20, 2010 | magazine=Time | title=Where's The Beet? | first=Joel | last=Stein | date=August 23, 2010}}
• Andrew Freeman & Co. included Meatless Monday in their 2011 Trend List: 18 up-and-coming ideas that restaurateurs should be watching, noting that "Meatless Mondays and vegetable based tasting menus are gaining traction as guests realize it's not all about the meat on the plate."{{cite news|url=http://www.hospitalityworldnetwork.com/operations/andrew-freeman-co-reveals-2011-trend-list-hospitality-9415|title=Andrew Freeman & Co. reveals 2011 hospitality trends|publisher=Hotel and Motel Management|date=October 26, 2010|access-date=June 13, 2011|archive-date=May 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519092254/http://www.hospitalityworldnetwork.com/operations/andrew-freeman-co-reveals-2011-trend-list-hospitality-9415|url-status=live}}
• Institutional feeder Sodexo announced in January 2011 that it would be offering Meatless Monday materials to more than 900 hospitals in their network.{{cite news |url= http://sodexousa.com/usen/media/press-releases/2011/meatlessmondayexpands041811.aspx |title= Sodexo More Than Triples Reach of Its Meatless Monday Offer |date= April 18, 2011 |publisher= Sodexo |quote= In the wake of a successful introduction of the Meatless Monday initiative to more than 900 hospitals nationwide, Sodexo is now extending it to more than 2000 corporate and government client locations in North America, including Toyota, Northern Trust Bank and the U.S. Department of the Interior. |access-date= March 21, 2014 |archive-date= March 22, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140322043116/http://sodexousa.com/usen/media/press-releases/2011/meatlessmondayexpands041811.aspx |url-status= live }} This effort was expanded in April 2011 when Sodexo provided materials to more than 2000 corporate and government client locations in North America, including Toyota, Northern Trust Bank and the U.S. Department of the Interior.{{cite news |url= http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sodexo-more-than-triples-reach-of-its-meatless-monday-offer-120055684.html |title= Sodexo More Than Triples Reach of its Meatless Monday Offer |date= April 18, 2011 |agency= PR Newswire |access-date= June 13, 2011 |archive-date= April 20, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110420152919/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sodexo-more-than-triples-reach-of-its-meatless-monday-offer-120055684.html |url-status= live }}
• In February 2011 The Oprah Winfrey Show highlighted Meatless Monday in an episode on vegan living. Oprah declared that Meatless Monday options would be available in the Harpo Studios cafeteria. Oprah then asked her studio audience to take part in the campaign, saying "Meatless Monday is something you can do at home with your family if you choose".{{cite news |url= http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprah-Goes-Vegan-Video/topic/oprahshow |title= Oprah Goes Vegan |date= February 1, 2011 |website= Oprah.com |format= video |access-date= June 13, 2011 |archive-date= August 9, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110809160733/http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprah-Goes-Vegan-Video/topic/oprahshow |url-status= live }}
• A report by the American Meat Institute in February 2011 found that 18% of American households now participate in Meatless Mondays.{{cite news |url= http://www.sustainablefoodnews.com/story.php?news_id=11948 |title= Survey shines light on consumer attitudes toward organic beef, poultry |date= February 23, 2011 |website= Sustainable Food News |location= Portland, Maine |access-date= June 13, 2011 |archive-date= April 1, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110401172022/http://www.sustainablefoodnews.com/story.php?news_id=11948 |url-status= usurped }}
• In June 2011 Aspen, Colorado became the first official "Meatless Monday city" with over 20 local restaurants, Aspen Valley Hospital, Aspen Elementary School, The Aspen Club & Spa, and The University of Colorado School of Medicine participating.{{cite news |url= http://www.meatlessmonday.com/articles/meatless-monday-gains-momentum-in-communities-nationwide/ |title= Meatless Monday Gains Momentum in Communities Nationwide |date= April 15, 2013 |quote= In June 2011, ... Aspen, CO, became the nation's first true Meatless Monday community |access-date= March 21, 2014 |archive-date= March 22, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140322014245/http://www.meatlessmonday.com/articles/meatless-monday-gains-momentum-in-communities-nationwide/ |url-status= live }}{{cite news |last= Oksenhorn |first= Stewart |url= http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20110605/NEWS/110609905 |title= Take Monday off – from meat |date= June 5, 2011 |newspaper= The Aspen Times |access-date= June 13, 2011 |archive-date= June 13, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110613163517/http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20110605/NEWS/110609905 |url-status= live }}
• A tracking study conducted by FGI research found that, as of May 23, 2011, U.S. awareness of the Meatless Monday campaign had reached 50.22% (up from 30% 6 months previously). Of those aware of Meatless Monday, 27.47% said the campaign had influenced their decision to cut back on meat. In response Meatless Monday launched their "get the other half" initiative, aimed at encouraging participants to tell their friends and family about the movement.{{cite news |last= Scott-Thomas |first= Caroline |url= http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Suppliers2/Meatless-Monday-campaign-reaches-more-than-half-of-America |title= Meatless Monday campaign reaches more than half of America |date= June 9, 2011 |agency= FoodNavigator-USA.com |publisher= William Reed Business Media |quote= Awareness of the 'Meatless Monday' campaign has reached more than half of Americans, according to an online tracking survey conducted by FGI Research. The poll found that 50.22 percent of 2,000 American adults in a nationally representative sample were aware of the campaign ... up from 30 percent awareness six months ago. |access-date= March 21, 2014 |archive-date= May 1, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130501024722/http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Suppliers2/Meatless-Monday-campaign-reaches-more-than-half-of-America |url-status= live }}
• In March 2012, the Government of Croatia also supported the initiative, excluding meat from the menu of the Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection on Mondays.
• In November 2012, the City of Los Angeles declared all Mondays to be "Meatless Mondays," citing actions by the Baltimore City Public School System, Oakland Unified School District, along with other school districts in Arlington, VA, Oneida, NY and Longmont, CO, as well as the cities of San Francisco, Takoma Park, MD, and Annapolis, MD, Marin County, CA, and the Council of the District of Columbia.{{cite news

| last = Lowery

| first = Wesley

| title = City Council asks L.A. residents to go 'meatless' on Mondays

| url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/11/city-council-asks-la-residents-to-go-meatless-on-mondays-.html

| newspaper = Los Angeles Times

| location = Los Angeles, CA

| date = November 12, 2012

| access-date = November 12, 2012}}{{cite web

| title = Meatless Mondays

| publisher = LACityClerk Connect

| url = http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=12-1721

| date = November 9, 2012

| access-date = November 12, 2012

| archive-date = November 2, 2013

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131102045949/http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=12-1721

| url-status = live

}}

• On October 23, 2017, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams announced that 15 Brooklyn schools will participate in Meatless Mondays starting in the spring of 2018.{{cite news |url=http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/675-17/mayor-de-blasio-chancellor-fari-a-borough-president-adams-15-brooklyn-schools-to |date=October 27, 2017 |access-date=October 27, 2017 |publisher=City of New York |title=Meatless Mondays in 15 NYC Schools |archive-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027020534/http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/675-17/mayor-de-blasio-chancellor-fari-a-borough-president-adams-15-brooklyn-schools-to |url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/10/23/meatless-mondays-new-york-city/ | title=Students Dine On All-Veggie Menus As 'Meatless Mondays' Hit Some City Schools | date=October 27, 2017 | access-date=October 23, 2017 | publisher=CBS New York | archive-date=October 24, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024035804/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/10/23/meatless-mondays-new-york-city/ | url-status=live }}

• Friday fast
• Meat-free days
• Meat Atlas
• Flexitarianism
• World Vegan Day
• World Vegetarian Day
• Vrata
• Veganuary
• Vegan school meal

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{commons category|Meatless Monday}}

• [http://www.meatlessmonday.com Official website of national Meatless Monday campaign]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20230316203157/https://meatfreemondays.com/about/ Official website of Meat Free Monday campaign], a not-for-profit campaign launched by Paul McCartney, Mary McCartney, and Stella McCartney.

{{Veganism and vegetarianism}}

Category:Vegetarianism

Category:Health campaigns

Category:Monday