As I wrote a couple of days ago, I prefer not to eat meat produced in the factory farming system. When I watched Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s ‘Chicken Run’ back in 2008 it really made me start thinking about where the food I eat comes from and what I feed my family. It was around this time I decided that I would try to only eat good quality meat from animals that have lived with a good quality of life. The way I judge this is simple, I want to have the opportunity to meet my meat when it is still walking around. Food that is produced in factories and hidden from TV cameras is not welcome on my plate. I am not anal about this and hence and sure that on occasions I still eat some meat that does not have the provenance I would prefer, but I do try to keep this to a minimum.

Ideals vs Income

Organic, free range meat with a good provenance is more expensive than the ‘standard’ meat offered in supermarkets. This shouldn’t really be a surprise as looking after animals in their natural, outdoor setting costs more than keeping animals packed in barns (factories). Personally I am opting to eat less meat rather than cheap meat.

Increased Meat Consumption

The world’s appetite for meat continues to grow. Meat production has doubled since 1977, and over the last half-century it has increased fivefold. Meat consumption in 2002 was approximately 40 kilograms per person and it continues to grow. This is more than double the amount of meat eaten per person in 1950. With an increased number of reports linking meat consumption and disease, maybe it is time to reserve this trend.

Global Warming

Many people are choosing to drive cars that omit less pollution (such as the Prius) because they are concerned about global warming, but the world’s top destroyer of the environment is not the car, or the plane: it is the cow. So if your own health and the well being of animals don’t make you question what you eat, maybe the health of the planet will?

Meat Free Mondays

I had the idea of Mondays Without Meat and decided I would launch a new blog focuses on this idea, but alas like all great ideas I was not the first to have. After looking online, I discovered that in 2009, Paul McCartney launched the Meat Free Monday campaign as a simple and straightforward idea to show everyone the value of eating less meat – and to make it easier for us all to do so. His campaign does not ask people to give up meat completely, but encourages us to do our bit to help protect our planet. By joining together in having one meat-free day each week we’ll be making great steps towards reducing the environmental problems associated with the meat industry. We’ll also be giving your own health a boost, and with the added benefit that vegetables cost less than meat, having one meat-free day each week means it’s good for your pocket too.

Today was my first official meat free monday:

• A delicious green juice for breakfast (made by my lovely wife)
• Mexican Tostados with 6 Bean Chilli (Black eye, flageolet, aduki, black & pinto beans with chick peas, jalapeno chillies, mixed peppers, sweetcorn, tomatoes, onions & carrots, finished with fresh coriander) at Chesters Mexican Restaurant in Worcester. This place has some great vegetarian options and even vegan ice cream!
• Mango, Apricot, Pineapple, Natural Yoghurt, Spirulina and alfalfa sprout smoothie
• Tahini Choco Beanie Smoothie (Jason Vale recipe)

I’ve had some delicious food today, enjoyed by my whole family and can’t will be experimenting with more vegetarian and vegan recipes every Monday from here on in.

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For everyday juicing I use the Phillips HR1861 Juicer

Year Without Beer

Please support my Year Without Beer by donating to one of these fantastic causes:

• To donate to Cancer Research UK please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB66 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB66 £5″ will donate £5.
• To donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB55 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB55 £5″ will donate £5.