Meatless Monday Recap

 

It’s been a year since A Sustainable LIFE embraced Meatless Monday’s so lets recap….

Meatless Monday is an international campaign that encourages people not to eat meat on Mondays to improve their health and the health of the planet.

Why Monday? Well Monday is the beginning of the work week, the day when individuals settle back into a weekly routine. You also have a scheduled recurring reminder to start your week off on a nutritious note. In my case, I can do one day a week. You have to start somewhere, right?

When we started I had a hard time finding meatless meals but once I opened my mind and my palate to new options I began to look forward to Monday’s. Fast forward and couple of months and I became pregnant. Between cravings, heart burn and morning sickness,  Meatless Mondays or any sort of pre-arranged meals was out of the question. Now that the baby is here…she continues to play a big role in what I eat (or when/if I eat). But with proper planning I think I can once again give Meatless Monday’s a try.

So each Monday A Sustainable Life will offer meat-free recipes, reviews, nutrition and health news. I’ll also chronicle my journey towards healthier eating habits. So please join me for Meatless Mondays. Send your comments and favorite recipes to help others in their quest towards wellness.

Source: Meatless Monday.com

Meatless Monday

Top 10 Vegetarian Countries

If you’re looking for vegetarian fare internationally, try these countries….

10. Canada–Toronto, arguably the most diverse city in the world, features vegetarian influences from various counties.  

9. Israel– Israeli eateries are often Kosher and do not sell pork or shellfish. Due to Kosher laws most food prepared in restaurants will not combine milk and meat. Vegetarian favorites here include falafel and hummus.

8.  Hong Kong -  Food found in Hong Kong is influenced by British, Chinese, Indian and some Western cultures. Health is also very big in Hong Kong, fostering vegetarianism.

7. United States– Large cities like New York, San Francisco and Chicago give vegetarians lots of options, which are not as abundant in the South and Southwestern parts of the country.

6. Thailand– Many Thai dishes are served with rice or noodles, are meat-free and loaded with veggies.

5. Taiwan– Has an abundance of vegetarian treats but language barriers are often a problem for tourists.

4. United Kingdom– The UK features restaurants with an abundance of veggie options and vegetarian foods in supermarkets are often clearly labeled.

3. Vietnam– Veggie Pho noodle dishes are a must have inVietnam.

2. Malaysia– Another country influenced by many cultures,Malaysia is known for its vegetarian curry dishes.

1. India– 20-40% of the Indian population is vegetarian, that’s more than any other country in the world. Of course the veggie choices in India are plentiful and delicious.

Source: Expatify.com

Casual Tuesday’s ???

Many companies have implemented “casual Friday’s”. This is the one day of the week that employees, who usually dress in suits and ties, get to wear more relaxed, less formal attire. I have always heard that casual Friday’s boost employee morale and that being comfortable allows the creative juices to flow.

Well today I learned of a different reason to institute dress down days. Employees of Japan’s Ministry of the Environment are dressing down to conserve energy and prevent electricity shortages in light of its nuclear crisis.

Starting on June 1, the program called the Cool Biz campaign, calls for office temperatures to be set at 82° Fahrenheit and for a no-suit, no-tie dress code. There is also a SUPER Biz Campaign which goes an extra step by starting on May 1, and relaxes the dress code even further by allowing employees to wear t-shirts, polo style shirts, sneakers and jeans (but does not allow athletic wear, shorts or flip-flops).

 Although not to the degree of the Ministry of the Environment, other companies across Japan have adopted similar policies. What are your thoughts on the program? If this were implemented at your place of employment how well would it be received? Would you “scare” your customers away?

Source: Earth 911

Photo: D. Scott Abbott

Dekalb Farmers Market: One of the World’s Largest

The Huffington Post  lists the Worlds Largest Farmers Markets and guess who made the list? The Dekalb Farmers Market (DFM) at #12. Located just 25 miles from Life University the DFM features a restaurant, fresh produce and seafood. 

The DFM produces a variety of specialty items which are all-natural and free of preservatives. This includes fresh and healthy pastas, soups, cakes, pizzas and sauces. While you’re there, look for the “Market Favorites” or “YDFM Brand”, which are made from scratch. The DFM prides itself in using organically grown and non-GMO ingredients. They also support small farms that employ humane, environmentally responsible and sustainable production methods.

 The DFM is open from 9am-9pm and accepts cash, debit, check and EBT.  

Great Wall of “Africa”???

Imagine the Great Wall of China. Now imagine a wall of trees…in Africa… and you have the “Great Green Wall”. This idea was the brain child of African leaders charged with fighting desertification in their countries. Desertification is the transformation of habitable land into desert and has become a serious problem across Africa.

The Wall, which is expected to cost $119 million will begin in Senegal and end in Djibouti, stretch 4,400 miles and be nine miles wide. The project will use drought-resistant native species to filter rain water into the ground helping to minimize soil erosion.

There is no word when the project is slated to begin but the wall is seen as a great tool in helping to stop soil erosion and poverty in Africa.

 Do you think this concept could work in the US? Where would this type of project be most effective?

 Thanks to www.tonic.com

Photo: http://treesnevermeet.wordpress.com