Hey babes,

So, I know it isn’t meant to be clickbait (or maybe it is, I’m not the Judge Judy of Intent), but I always feel cheated by the tagline “Meatless Monday.” I recently found myself on a pretty popular Millennial/Gen Z website, known for their mega lists, quizzes, videos, and surprisingly informative news branch. One of the lists that caught my eye was “17 Meatless Entrees” with a subtitle mentioning amazing vegan burgers. Always looking for new ideas, I decided to check it out. First couple looked great! Garlic noodle stir fry? Yum! A simple way to make mujadara? Absolutely! Flat bread with fruit and goat cheese? Oh…well, I could sub out the cheese. Mac n’ cheese? Cheese enchiladas? Cheese roll-ups. Well F-

Dairy Dairy Quite Contrary

Look folks, I get it. Cheese is tasty, one might even say addictive, but that is by design, and it isn’t because it’s healthy. Casomorphins released by the casein in milk offer a similar (though milder) effect to opioids, which release dopamine and lend to cheese’s crave-ability. Additionally, the casein in milk has been directly linked with the development of Type-1 diabetes in vulnerable infants and the development of multiple sclerosis, and the hormones ingested when one eats dairy (and yes, there are still hormones in organic) can stimulate the proliferation of a variety of cancers, as well as exacerbate acne, PCOS, mental health disorders, and, in spite of popular belief, bone fractures. Beyond that, there’s also the antibiotic contamination, glaring causal relationship between the saturated fat condensed in cheese and both heart disease and type-2 diabetes, among other chronic ailments.

So Meatless Mondays are Bad?

Not at all. Meatless Mondays and its successors (meatless Tuesdays and one meatless meal per day) were utilized during WWI and II as a way to help support the war effort through the conservation of resources, and even cutting out meat for one day can have benefits for the environment.

Beef requires 48 times the amount of water as the same amount of vegetables by weight, and 4 times the amount for the pulses. And while cheese and eggs use less than beef, they are still 16 and 10 times more water intensive than vegetables respectively. Additionally industrial agriculture plays a massive part in climate change, soil/land degradation, and the growing dead zones in our oceans.

And while killing no animals for meat would certainly be the ideal, there is something to be said about lessening the amount of suffering simply by choosing to cut back on meat. It is important to remember though, that dairy and eggs are not a victimless industry, so subbing cheese for chicken is not necessarily a net gain on behalf of the animals.

Back on the home front, where we really see the impact of our meatless choices, it’s also important to keep in mind that, cheese and other dairy products are still high-dollar items on any grocery list, and the health risks associated with meat consumption are often the same ones associated with dairy and eggs.

So yes, definitely do Meatless Monday. It is a great campaign promoting a scientifically and ethically justified movement. Just, maybe while you’re meatless, you could go one step further and go fully vegan on Mondays. Your arteries, and the animals, will thank you.

Ricotta Who?

So how does one make manicotti without ricotta? Just stuff it full of carrots? Celery sticks? Vegan stereotypes?? Close! It’s actually stuffed with every vegan’s bestie: TOFU.

Tofu is a staple in lots of Asian cuisine, as well as beloved by vegans everywhere for its chameleon-like ability to take on the flavors you cook it in, arguably better than its animal counterparts. After being drained and pressed, tofu can be marinated, frozen, blended, smashed, diced, etc. I have yet to find a recipe I couldn’t probably sneak it into.

On the nutrition front, tofu is a regular One Punch Man, humble in appearance, powerhouse where it matters. Tofu is a solid protein source that comes packaged with tons of manganese, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Soy and tofu have also been shown to improve endothelial function and lower LDL cholesterol, and help fight and prevent cancers of the prostate, breast, and digestive system. As further added bonuses, there is some evidence to suggest that soy isoflavones found in tofu may have a positive impact on bone health, brain function, and skin elasticity.

In order to use it, simply cut open the package, wrap it in a dishcloth, then put it on a plate and set a heavy skillet on top (or stack of books). If you have a tofu press or the ambition to make one, those do a great job as well. After 10-20 minutes of pressing, that beauty is ready to make an appearance.

Miso is a critical ingredient to this recipe in terms of taste. You can find some varieties at bigger grocery stores, but I always have good luck at an Asian grocery store or importer. And while miso is a great natural probiotic, I’m sorry to say the long cook time will definitely kill those little guys. Honor them by adding it anyway. Trust me, it’s worth it.