Individual advocates or community groups

Meatless Monday is a global movement that helps people eat more fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods. Cutting out meat one day a week is not only good for your health and the health of the planet, but it’s also an opportunity to try new ingredients, recipes, and cuisines. Starting a Meatless Monday program in your city or community is a proven way to promote healthy and sustainable eating habits at the grassroots and municipal levels while supporting local restaurants, food purveyors, businesses, and farmers.

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How to get started: 

  1. Understand the benefits: Review our benefits fact sheet to learn how Meatless Monday helps support healthy eating habits, personal wellness, and environmental sustainability. 
  2. Secure key stakeholder support: Submit a proposal to a local government office, council member, health department, or non-profit requesting to include a Meatless Monday program as part of a community wellness or sustainability initiative. Use our sample outreach letter or create your own.   
  3. Start a grassroots campaign: You don’t need the endorsement of a local official to advocate for Meatless Monday in your community. Use your social network to promote plant-based restaurants, recipes, or different food-related events, like farmers markets, potlucks, cooking classes, and plant-based bake sales. Pitch Meatless Monday to schools, restaurants, municipalities, religious centers, fire departments, or any volunteer group or advocacy group in your area. Our Get Started with Meatless Monday 12-week campaign includes the fundamental principles of Meatless Monday and is easy to share online via email or social media. For more ideas, review local success stories to see how others have implemented Meatless Monday in their communities. 
  4. Raise awareness: Generating support for a Meatless Monday campaign is imperative to its success. Thankfully, there are many ways to spread the word. Speaking at public meetings and town hall events, posting weekly on social media, sharing recipes with friends and family, or distributing flyers can help raise awareness. We have a free library of resources that includes printable materials, social media assets, and a sample 6-week newsletter campaign. You can also hold a letter-writing party and send the letters, along with key benefits, to your elected officials. Pitch Meatless Monday to local newspapers and radio stations by explaining the impact that reducing meat consumption can have on the environment and personal health.