飲食大革命。周一無肉日!健康，環保又省錢

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The Meatless (and Less Meat) Revolution

By Brad Tuttle

This year, the average American will eat 165.5 lbs. of beef and poultry家禽類的動物如雞鴨. That may sound like a lot, but it’s actually a 12% decline compared to 2007, when an annual intake of 189 lbs. of meat per person was standard. This week, chances are pretty good you’ll be hearing about the financial and health benefits of eating less meat, during “Meatout” events scheduled around the country.

What’s a Meatout? It’s a grassroots campaign民眾自發性發起的運動，通常並無政治力介入 to push consumers to “kick the meat habit戒掉肉類，不要再吃,” if not fully than by a matter of reduction.(如果不能全戒掉吃素，就少吃點)

Throughout the week, Meatout events have been scheduled in big cities like New Orleans and Phoenix, as well as spots such as Daytona, Florida and Charleston, West Virginia, among other places. The goal is to spread the word把訊息傳播出去, while handing out vegan food samples蔬食食譜(上回部落格有教各位vegan與vegetarians的差別，大家還記得嗎?) to 30,000 people.

The movement is taking place amid a setting in which Americans are eating less meat for many reasons other than just the “wholesome健康, compassionate慈悲” motivation動機 spelled out by the Meatouters拒絕肉食者(這是一個因應這項運動而出現的新字，來自meat, out加er). The USDA has noted a steady decline in meat consumption throughout the recession era經濟不景氣的年代, which is understandable because meals without meat (think rice and beans, pasta, etc.) tend to be much less expensive than New York strip steaks.

The Indianapolis Star recently called attention to the growing popularity of “Meatless Mondays” as a means to save money, while also trying to eat a more healthful diet更健康的飲食 and doing one’s part to do less damage on the environment減少對環境的傷害. A Mother Nature Network blogger concisely lists the reasons why she—and, likely, most people—are gorging on less meat:

I’m eating less meat because I want to for health reasons, for environmental reasons, for budget reasons基於預算理由 and to discover new foods.

In its Meatout coverage, the Los Angeles Times cites a survey indicating that 16% of Americans don’t eat meat or fish at more than half of their meals. Even fast food joints are getting in on meat-free meals:

Non-meat options不吃肉的選擇 are increasingly popular at chain restaurants連鎖餐廳. Burger King has a veggie burger素食漢堡; Johnny Rockets has a vegan one. So do Denny’s, Baker’s, Fatburger and a slew of 許多other major companies.

A veggie meal at a place called Fatburger? Doesn’t sound particularly tempting聽起來好像不怎麼會讓人流口水. But if ever you were going to give it a shot試試看, Meatout week would be the time.