Going Meatless on Monday! by Simply Amity

Going Meatless on Monday?  by Simply Amity

A new spin on cultivating healthy food choices starts on Monday.  This grassroots movement, is spearheaded by the non-profit initiative of the Monday Campaigns.  They are trying to bring back this American tradition that Presidents Wilson, Truman and Roosevelt requested during both world wars. The premise behind this popular idea was born with the best intentions. By eliminating meat from our diet one day a week we can greatly improve our health. We can also alter our carbon footprint and hopefully reduce the changes in our climate.  Since Monday is the beginning of a new week, the idea is that you may maintain this healthful eating pattern for more than one Monday, gradually changing your health and our world.

There is always a reason why people change their habits wether it be personal or political.  Yet neither seem to bother the ever growing amounts of restaurants that are opening their doors and their culinary bag of tricks to please these specialized mindful palates.  Big names like Oprah, Mario Batali, and Sir Paul McCartney; have openly shared that they too, are going meatless on Mondays.  Knowing about the vast amounts of heirloom vegetables that have never touched my table, I am welcoming this idea into my home.  What a culinary and healthy experience to offer to my children.  Yet another opportunity to tune into the kitchen and get creative with kids.

Now this is not a vegetarian or vegan menu as dairy and eggs are still on your plate, so the possibilities are endless. Easy ideas are soups, cereals, salads and pasta dishes,..see how easy that was? Or you can dive right in and try a meatless stir fry! As for me, I think we will do my Super Sammies   http://m.simplyfamilymagazine.com/site/online/2013/02/super-sammies/ for breakfast, a meatless taco salad for lunch (recipe below), and a super tasty meatless tortilla soup http://m.simplyfamilymagazine.com/site/online/2013/03/discover-dinner-possibilities with a shut the front door awesome bread  (recipe below) to pair. Want the recipe? Of course you do! Cheers!

Meatless Taco Salad

Enough to feed a family!

Two cans drained organic black beans

One large box of organic spring mix of greens

One organic jar of your favorite salsa

One can of GMO Free corn, drained

One organic red onion diced

One small bunch of organic cilantro

( one 8 oz bag of shredded cheese)

Two heaping handfuls of non GMO chips

Drain, rinse and mix

Add crunched chips on top

Yum!

Dairy Free - Egg Free Bread

1 1/2 tbsp yeast

1 1/2 sea salt

1 Tbsp organic olive oil

3 cups warm water

3 cups whole wheat flour

3 1/2 cups organic white flour

Add yeast and salt

Pour in warm water, let sit 5 minutes

Add olive oil, stir

Gently mix flour one cup at a time

Once in a ball ( sticky ) place in a oiled bowl

Let rise two hours

Preheat oven to 450, place shallow pan in bottom rack

Turn dough out ( sticky) turn the ends underneath

Set on a prepared pan, with organic corn meal, or organic oats ( so it doesn't stick ;)

Let rise another 30 minutes

Pour one cup of water in the shallow pan

Place dough above the pan on a top rack

Bake for 30 minutes,..

Devour!