City leaders

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.

small town

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. Select programming: Meatless Monday can be tailored to align with a city's or town’s health and sustainability goals. Institutions, community groups and local health departments can use Meatless Monday to promote plant-based eating, wellness initiatives, and environmental events such as Earth Month and American Heart Month. City leaders can leverage Meatless Monday to stimulate economic activity through partnerships with local businesses and restaurants. Review success stories to see how other municipalities have successfully implemented Meatless Monday.  

  3. Raise awareness: Create a campaign that encourages weekly participation and promote it using communication channels such as e-newsletters, social media, community groups, county council, or a local business chamber. Our Get Started with Meatless Monday 12-week campaign is easy to share via email as part of a community initiative or challenge. Use our free library of resources, which includes printable materials and social media assets to help generate interest and excitement in cafeterias at municipal or government buildings.  

  4. Make it official: A Meatless Monday proclamation or resolution from a mayor or elected official is another powerful public relations tactic. See our sample proclamation and sample press release for inspiration. Announce Meatless Monday to employees and staff and advocate for more plant-based options in government buildings and cafeterias.  

  5. Share progress: Use social media and other communication channels to publicize upcoming events, achievements, and successes. This is an excellent opportunity to announce when a sustainability or wellness goal has been reached.  

  6. Survey: Get a sense of how community members feel about Meatless Monday and plant-based foods with pre and post surveys. Assess these surveys and use the results to inform an expanded and ongoing Meatless Monday program.