Meat Free Monday One day a week can make a world of difference

Get ready to be spoilt for choice

With so many plant-based products readily available these days – veggie mince, burgers and sausages, tofu, tempeh, seitan, plant milks and more – literally any dish on a menu can be ‘veganised’!

See MFM in action

Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum supported Meat Free Monday by serving up ‘Beer-Battered Tofu ‘n’ Chips’, ‘Rosemary and Garlic-Marinated Pan-Fried Tempeh’ and ‘Vegetarian Haggis Burger’!
Find out more

Write MFM into your food policy

Just Childcare was the first nursery group in Britain to introduce MFM to all its 33 branches, to promote a healthy start to the week.
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Ideas for caterers

Caterers case study

Food for Thought

Liverpool-based school meals provider Food for Thought started participating in Meat Free Monday in 2011.
Read the case study

Make the menus work

If children are used to more traditional fare, it’s an idea to keep menus familiar at first and introduce new vegetables, dishes and cuisines more gradually.
Get recipe ideas

Check the latest advice

The 2021 government-commissioned National Food Strategy recommends a weekly meat free day for public caterers, and a 30% overall reduction in the consumption of meat and ultra-processed food over the next decade.
Find out more

Make it fun

Involve students in menu planning, and introduce themed days, including world cuisine, to make things exciting.

Top tips for school caterers

FAQs

Questions?

Here you’ll find answers to some frequently asked questions about health and nutrition in relation to plant-based eating.

View more FAQs

Isn’t eating meat necessary to stay healthy?

Study after study supports the idea that a wholefood plant-based diet is optimal for health and well-being. The British Dietetic Association states that well-planned plant-based diets “can support healthy living at every age and life-stage”. The US Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that “appropriately planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases”.

Is there enough protein in a meat free diet?

Yes there is. In Western countries, our problem is that we get too much protein, not too little, and this is causing health problems. Most Britons get at least twice as much protein as they need, and too much protein, especially animal protein, can increase the risk of osteoporosis and kidney disease. There is protein in whole wheat bread, nuts, oatmeal, beans, corn, peas, mushrooms, green leafy vegetables and vegetables like broccoli – almost every food. Unless you eat a great deal of processed, greasy fast food, it’s almost impossible to eat as many calories as you need for good health without getting enough protein.

What about calcium?

Plant-based food offers plenty of calcium – for example swede, okra, broccoli, dried figs, chia seeds, almonds and dark green leafy vegetables (especially kale, spinach, watercress and pak choi). Fortified soya milk and calcium set tofu and are also good sources of calcium.

Where can I get iron from?

Iron-rich foods include green leafy vegetables (for example, spinach, kale and cabbage), dried apricots, figs, dates, beans, lentils, tofu, millet, peas and pumpkin seeds.

Where can I get zinc from?

Zinc-rich foods include kidney beans, almonds, wholegrains, green leafy vegetables, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, lentils and tofu.

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