The topic of vegetarian, flexitarian, vegan or pescatarian eaters is showing up weekly in news reports across the country. Consumers are becoming more and more conscious of the amount of meat they eat and the impact it has. Meat-loving chefs are beginning to embrace vegetable butchery, and veggie burgers are appearing on even the beefiest of hamburger menus. One avenue consumers are using to reduce meat consumption is to remove meat from their diet one day a week, specifically on Monday. Meatless Monday has become a movement to promote personal health and the health of the planet. The idea is to cut out meat one day a week. And since most Americans begin the week on Monday, it’s a great way to start the week off right.
The healthy appeal of a meatless menu option is enticing to customers with dietary demands and those looking for nutritious meals. Customers ranging from teens to seniors, families and fitness fanatics will be appreciative of a meatless option. Even meat-lovers are willing to go meatless once a week since it has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and certain forms of cancer.
The transition to a Meatless Monday menu may be easier than you think. Operations in healthcare, on college campuses, at work places and even some school districts have started adapting their menus and are seeing success. A good place to start is with ingredients, like beans – that are already in your pantry. Beans are a great replacement for meat. They’re a good source of plant based protein and fiber, which increases satiety, reduces hunger, and helps control appetite. And they are a lot less expensive than animal proteins.
With beans, your meatless options are endless. They are exceptionally versatile and can be used in just about any type of cuisine. Utilizing beans more frequently on the menu allows you to offer a wider variety of global cuisines, since beans are an important ingredient around the world. Beans also work across all dayparts, so they can be integrated throughout the day for a full Meatless Monday menu.
To get started, you don’t have to go all-in. Roll it out by offering meatless meals alongside meat dishes and use ingredients you can use in both (like beans). Then, call out your meatless options on the menu, table tents, the specials board, buttons — whatever you can easily change — and watch the interest build. There are thousands of meatless recipes and millions of people looking for meatless meals. With the right combination, Meatless Monday will be an undeniable success in your operation. And with Bush’s Best® beans, you can do it.
This post is sponsored by Bush’s Best®