los angeles meatless mondays

Victory: Resolution for Meatless Mondays in LA

meatless mondays in laOn Friday, Nov. 9, the Los Angeles City Council officially introduced and unanimously passed a  resolution for Meatless Mondays in LA to “encourage residents to eat a more varied plant-based diet to protect their health and protect animals.” Compassion Over Killing worked closely with council members on this initiative, and we applaud the city for inspiring Angelenos to choose meat-free foods at least once a week.

Los Angeles is now the third—and the largest—city in the US to adopt a Meatless Monday resolution, following Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, Calif.

“When dealing with issues as big as global warming, or even as personal as battling diabetes or obesity, it’s easy to feel helpless, like there’s little we can do to make a difference,” said Los Angeles Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, who co-authored the Meatless Monday resolution. “But the small changes we make every day can have a tremendous impact. That’s why this Meatless Monday resolution is important. Together we can better our health, the animals and the environment, one plate at a time.”

Co-author Councilmember Jan Perry continued that “Meatless Monday is about raising awareness. It is not a requirement, but rather a call for all of us to think about our environment, the food we eat, and how we can be a part of making ourselves healthier.”

School districts and hospitals across the country are also joining the Meatless Monday movement, a campaign launched by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to empower individuals to start their week with healthier food choices.

According to a poll conducted by the American Meat Institute, 18% of Americans are going meat-free on Mondays. Notable campaign supporters include Oprah Winfrey, Emily Deschanel, and even Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Every time we choose a meat-free meal, we’re helping build a kinder, cleaner, and healthier world. Learn more about vegetarian eating by visiting our website, TryVeg.com.

By going meatless even just one day a week, we can:

  • Do more for the planet than by switching to a totally local diet
  • Reduce our carbon footprint by over 8 lbs per day, as much as not driving for two days
  • Save 1/2 a gallon of gasoline per day
  • Reduce our saturated fat intake by 15% (per meatless meal)
  • Reduce our risk of breast, colon, prostate, kidney, and pancreatic cancer
  • Decrease our risk of heart disease by up to 19% (per meatless meal)
  • Save 28 land animals and 175 aquatic animals per year

Similar initiatives promoting healthier and more sustainable food choices have been adopted in other jurisdictions, including Takoma Park, Md., Montgomery County, Md., Santa Cruz County, Calif., and Marin County, Calif.

Check out our gallery of Angelenos enthusiastically voicing their support for Meatless Mondays, and order a FREE Vegetarian Guide to Los Angeles to find veg-friendly fare throughout the city. Want to join our next step efforts to encourage schools and restaurants in LA to support this resolution? Sign up now!

Meatless Mondays in LA Media Coverage