Originally Posted on 07/08/2013 for Huffington Post.
Happy anniversary, readers. I’ve been writing weekly Meatless Monday posts.
Happy anniversary, readers. I’ve been writing weekly Meatless Monday posts for Seven years now. And they said it wouldn’t last.
After the first month, my editor gently asked, “How many different ways can you encourage people not to eat meat?” At least 208 so far and still going.
A meatless diet:
1) benefits the planet by reducing water and carbon output and enabling better soil
2) allows us to feed more people
3) cuts grocery bills and health care costs
4) cuts our support to agribusiness and factory farming
5) enhances our connection to all living and loving things
6) offers awesome eats
Not only does it give me endless topics to explore, eating meatlessly is the most delicious way to multitask I know. It’s an easy thing each of us can do to make a difference. And in a world where drones are watching us and we can’t seem to get a climate change policy off the ground, it can count as a radical act.
The problem is, a diet of agribusiness processed food and antibiotic-choked factory farm meat has left us dulled, drugged and weak. It’s hard to start a revolution that way.
We need a healthy, accessible and sustainable and compassionate food system that will feed and nourish all of us. Click To Tweet
A revolution is what we need, one that values people rather than profits and provides a healthy, accessible and sustainable and compassionate food system that will feed and nourish all of us.
It may be happening. Over the past seven years, I’ve connected with and introduced you to chefs, animal rights activists, educators, authors, farmers, organic growers, food policy experts, doctors, chefs, famous vegan pioneers and unsung vegan foot soldiers. They’re all heroes, all working for positive, plant-centric change. “There’s an awakening, a food movement. More and more people are listening,” says The Food Revolution Network’s John Robbins.
In my book “Feeding the Hungry Ghost,” I say when you change your food, you change your life and you can change the world. I believe that. I also say there is nothing is more precious than you. I believe that, too. The world needs you. The world needs all of us, and we can’t create a sustainable environment when we’re fat and sick (which now is the same thing as far as the American Medical Association is concerned).
A plant-based diet is still our best hope for a nourishing, sustainable future. I’m keeping the Meatless Monday love going. I hope you will, too. Join in. Go forth. Eat vegetables.
Tunisian Roasted Vegetables
The recipe that launched 208 posts (and counting). As I wrote in my first-ever Meatless Monday post, it’s kinda spicy, kinda sexy, very easy, very healthful and your plate will be a meat-free zone. You can take quadruple bypasses off the menu, rack up serious positive personal and global karma and who knows, you might start looking forward to Mondays. Serve over whole grain couscous, brown rice or quinoa and/or greens.Ingredients
- 1 large onion sliced
- 1 red pepper sliced into strips
- 3 carrots sliced lengthwise into strips
- 1 zucchini sliced lengthwise into strips
- 2 ribs celery sliced lengthwise into strips
- 8 ounces mushrooms quartered (or halved, if small)
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon harissa* Moroccan chili sauce or your favorite chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- a pinch of sea salt
- 1 bunch cilantro chopped fine
Instructions
Notes
* Available at Middle Eastern markets and many natural food stores.
Thank you for reading my vegan stories and plant-based recipes. I sincerely love to connect with listeners and would like to hear your feedback, takeaways, “ah-ha!” moments, etc in the comments.
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