Meatless Mondays: Health Dept. Encourages Skipping Meat One Day

January 4, 2013

The Escambia County Health Department is advocating a program called “Meatless Monday” — encouraging residents to reduce the amount of meat in their diets.

The health department says eating less meat will improve personal health and the health of the planet. Supporting the international Meatless Monday movement, the Escambia County Health Department will provide information and resources about the benefits of eating more plant-based proteins and less meat.

“We’re not advocating complete avoidance of meat – that’s not realistic,” says Registered Dietitian and Community Health Education and Nutrition Director, Versilla Turner. “This campaign is about helping residents take small, manageable steps toward better health.”

The Escambia County Health Department will work with local restaurants, schools, and other establishments to promote eating less meat as a step toward a healthier diet. Weekly recipes, frequently asked questions, and an overview of why and how to eat less meat can be found on the campaign webpage on EscambiaHealth.com.

According to the Escambia County Health Department — Eating less meat can improve health, save money, and help sustain the environment. Excess meat consumption is linked to increased risks of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. Replacing some meat with plant-based proteins improves health by increasing the variety of vitamins and minerals consumed, as well as providing more fiber and less saturated fat. Individuals can easily meet protein needs and still feel full and satisfied by eating more plant-based proteins and less meat. Finally, eating less meat can also help sustain the planet by decreasing energy usage and dependence on fossil fuels.

Comments

39 Responses to “Meatless Mondays: Health Dept. Encourages Skipping Meat One Day”

  1. SHO-NUFF on January 6th, 2013 11:16 pm

    @ 429SCJ:
    Darn right potted meat is good! I like it spread on light bread for a sandwich.
    My vegetarian diet would be a tomato sandwich with plenty of mayonnaise, salt and pepper.
    Next time you fire up the grill, put some Vienna sausages on it for a bit. Yum Yum!!

    @MulletMan:

    Nothing better than Mullet, skin on and backbones fried in LARD!!
    Well, anything fried in lard is just about as close to Heaven you can get on earth!

    I think some of the health problems we face today are from “healthy alternatives” such as shortening instead of real Butter, and hydrogenated cooking oils instead of lard.

    Most of folks health problems are genetic. High blood pressure, heart problems, high cholesterol, and other things. If your Parents had problems, chances are you will also, and a proper diet will be needed.

    My Great Uncle that lived until 104 years old, smoked Prince Albert hand rolled cigarettes and drank bourbon and beer until he died, everyday! He had to give up driving at 98 years old due to poor eye sight, but continued to farm and run a tractor until the day he died.

    Grandmother was found dead behind her house with a Deer she killed strung up to be cleaned. Heart attack at 93 and she had a passion for Red Seal snuff, Cigars and good Gin. I wonder how long they would of lived not drinking or smoking, and eating “Healthy” ?
    They both lived off the land, eating fried critters and fish, home grown vegetables and drinking water out of a hand dug shallow well. Ate dirt sometimes, some kind of clay they both liked to eat.
    Amazing how we do so much to take care of ourselves, and don’t live near as long as they did..

  2. Betty on January 6th, 2013 8:54 pm

    Praise the Lord and pass the peas!

  3. David Huie Green on January 6th, 2013 5:50 pm

    REGARDING:
    “healthy alternatives to meats as a protein are beans, legumes and nuts”

    Lima beans, yummmm, the people around me can just live with the aftereffects.
    Legumes — black eyed peas, field peas, peanuts, more yummmmm
    Nuts — seems a bit cannibalistic

    I doubt the opponents are unaware the other sources of protein exist and I imagine they all eat most of them. (And don’t forget that wheat has protein.)
    I suspect they also like the taste of meat.

    David for happy lives

  4. susan kennedy on January 6th, 2013 5:09 pm

    Many people do not realize that healthy alternatives to meats as a protein are beans, legumes and nuts. I fully support this initiative!

  5. m&m on January 6th, 2013 2:38 pm

    Way to go mullet man You are speaking my language now. After I moved to Florida and started eating seafood I believe I have tried it all. Mullet is by far my favorite with a cold glass of tea (half&half). mullet fried nice and crispy. Now I have to go to a restaurant if I get any seafood. Really miss thoes days.

  6. 429SCJ on January 6th, 2013 7:53 am

    Sho Nuff, If you will put a dab or smear of that potted meat on a Ritz Cracker, with a razor thin slice of pepper jack and an olive in the middle.

    Those Viennas can stand alone on their own.

    @CheeseburgerNparadise, before you know it every day will be meatless, unless?
    This will just get us aclamated (acclimated) to it.

  7. JT on January 5th, 2013 7:59 pm

    They can pry my hamburger from my cold dead hands.

  8. bob hudson on January 5th, 2013 6:44 pm

    Very good post David, and yes you are right. makes me laugh, in a good way thanks.

  9. David Huie Green on January 5th, 2013 5:44 pm

    REGARDING:
    ” first government offers advice, then government says this is what we want you to do, then it goes to what you will do,”

    It isn’t THAT bad. The government has been telling us things they think we should do since they told us we should separate from bloody old England. Well, okay, they convinced us some of the times but not always. What’s cute is how the advice changes and isn’t even consistent at the same time.
    Coffee’s bad because of this.
    Coffee’s good because of that.
    Spend more to boost the economy.
    The economy’s in bad shape because of not enough people saving.
    Eggs are bad for you.
    Eggs are good for you.
    Sunlight’s good for you because it kills pathogens and generates vitamins.
    Sunlight causes cancer.
    Freedom of speech should be respected.
    Certain words shouldn’t spoken.
    The Bill of Rights should be respected.
    Certain people should be locked up in Guantanamo so their rights won’t count.
    Mass transit is the wave of the future.
    Avoid massing together in case of terrorist attack.
    Oh, wait, has the government ever mentioned that possibility? Probably not, don‘t want to scare us.

    Anyhoo, if advice sounds good, take it.
    If it sounds bad, don’t take it — although research might make it sound more reasonable but the sources are often questionable. I’ve seen studies showing that the studies showing how bad meat is didn’t take into account that many of the meat eaters also drank and smoked. That would skew the results.

    And remember, whatever the advice is today will be different next week or next year.

    David for the well-meaning

  10. cheeseburgerinparadise on January 5th, 2013 5:49 am

    How in the world are we supposed to concentrate on an article about meatless..whatever it is with a picture of that hamburger above the headline. I’m going to fire up my grill. Thanks for nothing William. Lol.

  11. Not You on January 5th, 2013 1:00 am

    Nothing new under the sun here:
    During World War I, the United States Food Administration (USFA) urged families to reduce consumption of key staples to help the war effort. Conserving food would support U.S. troops as well as feed populations in Europe where food production and distribution had been disrupted by war. To encourage voluntary rationing, the USFA created the slogan “Food Will Win the War” and coined the terms “Meatless Monday” and “Wheatless Wednesday” to remind Americans to reduce intake of those products.[5]
    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.[7]

  12. bmr on January 4th, 2013 11:04 pm

    Negative,I will continue to eat meat,beef it’s what’s for dinner.

  13. Trish on January 4th, 2013 8:33 pm

    I am sure the cattle, poultry and hog producers appreciate this. Lets just make it harder for the people who help feed us, sounds like an excellent idea!

  14. bob hudson on January 4th, 2013 8:10 pm

    What is wrong with this , is the same as every thing else , first government offers advice, then government says this is what we want you to do, then it goes to what you will do, Well I think the government should mind its own damn business, you see it starts with,( we will be working with local————-, you fill in the blanks.well, so they start to shove it in on you. Well everyone should have a choice , not some damn mandate.And the current way our present government lies to us, I would not believe any thing they say now any way.

  15. Tanya B on January 4th, 2013 6:38 pm

    I will try something that Dr Lanza wants us to try, whenI was scared I got one of those bad shots he was there for me when my primary care dr wasnt. his wife is a dr and I know that they both would stand up to the government and whoever else if they thought it was wrong. And tell you to your face if something was not right. They really care and few drs care in escambia county please don’t be mean to him I know it’s your choice but really he is a good man he really cares I’ve had to deal with lots of people in the community and he is real.

  16. Cheeseburgerinparadise on January 4th, 2013 6:36 pm

    William,
    How in the world are we supposed to concentrate on meatless anything with a picture of that delicious looking cheeseburger above the article.

  17. Mullet Man..... on January 4th, 2013 4:46 pm

    Eat Mo’ Mullet….
    I say fire up the fryers and fry up a mess of mullet for the kids.
    Give ‘em some cheese grits (use that Govt. cheese it must be good for us) and some Govt. grits and mix up some hushpuppys and turnip greens and some Bunny bread. Pour up some good real sugar sweet tea and it just don’t get no better than that……
    Gettin’ locally caught mullet will keep folks working and provide a nutritious meal for the kids and give them some sense of what real heritage is.
    Mo’ Mullet, please…..

  18. I heart veggies on January 4th, 2013 4:43 pm

    I am confused to the negative reactions to the government’s advocation. This is not a proposition for a “fat tax,” nor is any one trying to force anything upon anyone. This is our government doing what we expect it to do: educate and inform. The article suggests that we, in order to maintain health, reduce the amount of meat we eat. It is a suggestion. As quoted, “We’re not advocating complete avoidance of meat – that’s not realistic.”

    “Ain’t no big guvvermint gonna tell me whatta eat.”

    You can keep your 74/26 ground beef, right next to your Lipitor, and no one will take it.

  19. tiredofgov. on January 4th, 2013 1:33 pm

    I am sick of GOV. trying to spend my money. In the past week gas has gone up (3.31) social security tax went up ect.. Now someone in the gov. wants to tell me what to eat and when,also I SAY NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

  20. SHO-NUFF on January 4th, 2013 1:31 pm

    @ Greg:

    My Grandparents lived past the age of 90, a great Uncle to 104, and there was Salt Pork and biscuits on the table every morning.
    I don’t recall them ever eating Beef, it was always Pork and a lot of Chicken.

    Peas, butter beans, collards, turnips, corn, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, strawberries and what ever else raised on the farm. Homemade Cain syrup, and blueberries provided sweets. Other than being wonderful foods, it was also a healthy diet.

    The key to it all is they were ACTIVE people. They worked hard from Daylight until Dark 6 days a week and the kids had plenty of chores also.
    In fact, I don’t recall seeing many obese people that lived on a farm.

  21. Sara Bell on January 4th, 2013 12:53 pm

    WOW my fam started doing this about six months ago but we don’t eat meat 3 days a week it was just because we needed to cut back on our grocery bill though. It’s kinda fun though the children enjoy looking in their grandmas old cookbooks for things to try.

  22. NotAgain on January 4th, 2013 12:31 pm

    Meatless Mondays?

    More government intrusion into our lives.

    Now, shut up and eat your soylent green. Obama says it’s good for you.

  23. Henry on January 4th, 2013 12:15 pm

    Meatless Mondays — YOU CAN’T BEAT IT!!!!

  24. Sue Ellen on January 4th, 2013 12:14 pm

    Actually, northendbratt, the Catholic ban on red meat on Fridays was abolished by Vatican II in the 1960’s. It applies now only to Fridays during Lent.

  25. Pineville PI on January 4th, 2013 11:07 am

    How ironic, i just fried up a sausage patty made of pork and deer, jammed it between some bunny bread and sat down to read NorthEscambia and this is what I get. Article not to sure about but breakfast snack made of meat, YUM YUM YUM.

  26. Northendbratt on January 4th, 2013 9:21 am

    So glad to see the respones to this article! If you are Catholic, you never eat red meat on Friday. The Health Dept. should know this. Red meat was not served in the lunch rooms of public schools for this reason. There are too many undernourished children now to have another day without the best protien source they can have being served to them at school. The lunch rooms are doing such a poor job anyway.why make it worse?

  27. gulf Coast on January 4th, 2013 9:14 am

    I read somewhere that some local resturants were going to participate, I hope I see that list because I will be sure NOT to patronize them the other 6 days of the week as well.

    My message to the government, “Get your hand off my wallet and get out of my life!!”

  28. Fairlane63 on January 4th, 2013 8:32 am

    This is bad advice based on flawed research. People who want to avoid T2 diabetes and improve their blood lipids should not avoid meat– they should avoid sugar and refined and/or starchy carbs.

    Americans eat a lower-fat diet today than they ever have before, yet obesity and T2 diabetes are through the roof. Meanwhile, consumption of sugar (HFCS for example) and refined carbs has greatly increased in the last forty years. Coincidence?

    Human beings are designed to eat meat and green leafy vegetables. Want to improve your health? Avoid sugar, potatoes, corn, and pasta. Wheat too– whole-grain bread bread is better than white, but all bread is bad for you. Eat all the meat you want and exercise too.

    Don’t just take my word on it– look it up. The relationship between carbs, insulin production, and obesity is important and also unknown to most people. I’m disappointed that the local Health Department is using our tax dollars to spread this outmoded harmful advice.

  29. Correction on January 4th, 2013 8:25 am

    @ DLo: Health Department employees are State employees, not County. Just saying. So much negativity is spewed at County workers that I decided to set the record straight on this one.

  30. Alan on January 4th, 2013 7:50 am

    NO WAY…besides, pick a better day than Monday…Mondays are already rough, why take away meat on that day…but, I eat meat at every meal…so, NO THANKS!

  31. bob hudson on January 4th, 2013 7:31 am

    Eat more deer, and to the health dept, thanks but no thanks.

  32. Greg McGahan on January 4th, 2013 7:26 am

    To the Federal, State and Local Govts…..Get out of my business……Take care of the roads, the troops and quit trying to micro manage my religious expression, my gun ownership and my diet.

    My Great grandparents and grandmother (Grandpa died in an accident) cooked with lard and ate meat at every meal and lived productive lives to their mid eighties to 97 years old….you wanna
    regulate something – get the steroids and crap out of our food.

  33. I heart veggies on January 4th, 2013 7:22 am

    Cutting meat/poultry down to a few meals a week would be better.

  34. DLo on January 4th, 2013 6:46 am

    How many people at the Health Dept are working on this project, being paid with my tax money to tell me what to eat, and that cow flatulence is destroying the planet. I’m guessing that maybe one less county employee is actually needed if they have time for this garbage.

  35. Matt on January 4th, 2013 6:03 am

    NOOOOOO!

  36. chris1 on January 4th, 2013 5:31 am

    great idea.
    Skip a meal ,once a week , its good to do.

  37. SW on January 4th, 2013 4:41 am

    Really? They are really going to go there? How about nooooooo?

  38. 429SCJ on January 4th, 2013 4:07 am

    I remember a late buddy from grade school, whose late father was a local cattle producer, once boasted ” my family eats steak for breakfast and dinner every day”. They are all buried in the local area.

    I like the chicken tenders as they taste good, can be used in a multitude of dishs, are better for you and much lower in cost than beef.

    Moreover I am of the opinion that congress should subsidize the production and regulate the price of peanuts and peanut butter. It is a valuable plant protien staple and kid’s just love it, older folks too.

  39. SHO-NUFF on January 4th, 2013 3:28 am

    With the price of Groceries going up everyday and no pay increases for most of us, there won’t be too many Fat people left before long.
    The only meat we will be eating is Vienna Sausage and Potted Meat!!