US VegWeek Starts Today—Earth Day!

Today is the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day, inspired by the late Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson who said, “Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures.” Fortunately, choosing meat-free foods is the single greatest action we can take to preserve our planet and save animals. That’s why we plan US VegWeek at this time every year-to celebrate the many benefits and flavors of vegetarian foods, and empower others to create a kinder, greener, and healthier world.

Learn about animal agriculture’s effect on the environment and animals.

DID YOU KNOW?

The United Nations attributes nearly one-fifth (18%) of all global human-induced greenhouse gas emissions to animal agriculture. Buying local and organic helps, but we can most effectively fight global warming with our fork.

Meatless Monday Becomes an American Tradition

By starting your pledge today—Meatless Monday—you can count yourself as one of the nearly 20% of Americans opting for meat-free foods to kick-off their week. Over the next seven days, you’ll discover that meat-free eating doesn’t mean giving up flavor; it simply means choosing the cruelty-free versions of your favorite foods. It’s as easy as substituting marinara for meat sauce, black bean burritos for beef, or creamy almond or coconut milk for cow’s milk. US VegWeek offers a wonderful chance to get creative in the kitchen. Start with the coupons from your Veg Starter Pack (download digital coupons here), and try some new foods today.

Learn about animal agriculture’s effect on the environment and animals.

Recipe: Beefless Soft Tacos

But where do you get your protein? This is perhaps the most common question asked of vegans and vegetarians. Good news! Eating an adequate number of calories per day made up of any normal variety of plant foods gives us all the protein our bodies need without the downsides of eating meat. In fact, the average person eating a standard meat-based diet consumes about twice as much protein as their body needs, which can actually lead to kidney stones, calcium loss, and more. So don’t “protein-panic”—just pick up some protein powerhouses such as nuts or beans, or a delicious meat alternative like the beefless beef included in the recipe below.

Get Gardein’s recipe for Beefless Soft Tacos.

  Warmly,

  Jaya Bhumitra
  Campaigns Director
  Compassion Over Killing

GET VEGUCATED

Watch Vegucated—streaming for free on Hulu.com—to see how three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers began their veg journey. Want your own copy to share? Get special discounts on the DVDs.

WE’RE CONNECTED

Tweeting about your pledge? Mention us at @TryVeg and use the #USVegWeek hashtag. And don’t forget to share photos of the vegan meals you’re eating on our Facebook page, too!