To lose weight, to to stop biting your fingernails, to quit smoking, to organize the house, to do more charity work. Now matter what your New Year’s resolution is, it is daunting to make any kind of commitment for 365 days. Seventy-eight percent of people do not meet their New Year’s resolution goals.
It is difficult to change any habit or behavior, especially for an entire year, and especially if it is a lifetime habit – like eating meat. But, one of the best resolutions you can make for your health, for the planet, and for the animals, is to eat less meat.
Going vegetarian, especially cold turkey, may be overwhelming, so it is often easier and more realistic to make smaller, shorter goals. Here are some ideas:
Consider a resolution to do Meatless Monday – for just one day a week, cut out meat.
Challenge yourself to go vegetarian for 2 weeks. Use these Three Steps to easily come up with 2 weeks worth of veggie meals. The 2 weeks will fly by.
Take it one month at a time. After a month or a few months, expand your Meatless Mondays to Meatless Mondays & Wednesdays, or go meatless for the first week of each month. The more you try it, the easier it will get. And cutting even just some of the meat out of your diet will make a significant difference in your health, to the environment, and to the animals.
It is easy to fall back into old habits, especially when you get home from work, tired. So, plan ahead by mapping out meals in advance and ensuring you have the ingredients for them. Or at least make sure that you have some “staples” on hand like pasta, rice, beans, and some fresh veggies. It’s so easy to toss some zucchini and spinach into pasta, or broccoli and bell peppers into rice, or throw some beans & cilantro into a tortilla.
Take each day meal by meal. Soon you’ll have more energy and a better awareness of what’s going into your body. You’ll feel good about how you’re helping the Earth and the fact that you’re contributing less to the suffering of animals. And, before you know it, 365 days will have passed, veggie meals will have become habit, and it will be time to make a new resolution.
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Breakfast: Vegan breakfast wrap – tofu scramble, soy cheese, and fake bacon bits
Lunch: Veggie sandwich – roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomoato, onion, mozzarella cheese, and pesto
Dinner: Soy chorizo tacos
