Around the Globe with Meatless Monday: The United Kingdom

Did you know that Meatless Monday is active in over 40 countries and continues to grow? We are a global movement with a simple message: one day a week, cut the meat. Our partners and ambassadors are pioneering the way, sharing the Meatless Monday message with their communities.

This Monday, we’re headed to the U.K. to connect with our global partner, Meat Free Monday, and share their most recent news on skipping meat once a week.

Inspired as a public health campaign to address the positive impacts of reducing meat consumption, Meatless Monday has been around since 2003. Meat Free Monday was created by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney in 2009 to raise awareness of the consequences eating meat has on the planet, the lives of animals, and the climate.

Here are a few newsworthy events happening at Meat Free Monday:

At the end of 2017, Sir Paul McCartney brought the short film “One Day a Week,” featuring Woody Harrelson and Emma Stone, to the delegates of COP23, the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The film shows the devastating environmental damage animal agriculture has on the planet and the positive impact citizens can make by simply not eating meat one day a week.

Starting in April of this year, all 80 primary schools in Edinburgh, Scotland went meatless one day a week. They’re served by Edinburgh Catering Services, which prepares 18,000 meals daily. Meals offered at the start of the week include: Quorn Pasta Bolognaise, Veggie Balls and Yorkshire Pudding, and Baked Potato with a choice of fillings.

We reached out to Meat Free Monday and asked for a popular dish to share with us. They shared the classic Italian salad Panzanella, inspired by summertime tomatoes. This salad tosses crunchy ciabatta bread together with juicy in-season tomatoes to make a delicious meat free combination. Enjoy!

Are you interested in launching Meatless Monday in your country? Download our Meatless Monday Global Guide and become part of the movement! The kit contains useful steps, scientific research, and links to additional graphics and tools. The science is backed by The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, which leverages research to build a healthier food system. The guide introduces you to the movement and help you form relationships with organizations in your community.  And make sure to tell us about your progress at [email protected]