Happy World Vegetarian Day, Everyone!

The non-profit North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) declared October 1st World Vegetarian Day in 1977 as “an annual celebration to promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.” I like that! As if this day isn’t awesome enough, it also kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month.

Here’s more info from the World Vegetarian Day website:

“World Vegetarian Day, October 1, is the annual kick-off of Vegetarian Awareness Month. Make a difference this October by informing others about the benefits of vegetarianism. You will be helping to create a better world because vegetarian diets have proven health benefits, save animals’ lives and help to preserve the Earth.”

Now’s the perfect time to go veg. Try it for a day, a week or even the whole month.  1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef and 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef. Cutting out meat just 1 day a week, like on Meat-Free Mondays, eliminates your meat consumption by 15%, which can positively impact animals, your health and the environment.

Already vegetarian? Huzzah! Try cutting out dairy and other animal by-products. According to FARM, adopting a full vegan diet can:

• Spare 200 animals a year
• Preserves 53,000 sq. ft. of rainforest a year
• Saves 1.3 million gallons of water a year

But even if you eliminate animal products for 1 to 2 days a week, you can:

• Spare 28 animals a year
• Preserves 770 square ft. of rainforest a year
• Saves 190,000 gallons of water a year

So what are some ways to celebrate World Vegetarian Day? Glad you asked! Here are 10 suggestions:

1. Cook a vegetarian or vegan meal.
2. Browse a veg food blog, such as The Lunchbox Bunch,  The Post Punk Kitchen,  Luminous Vegans, By Any Greens Necessary, JL Goes Vegan, Namely Marly,  Happy Herbivore and Vegan in the Sun.
3. Try eating a meatless meal once a week or try eating all meatless meals before 6pm. Here are some tips on going vegetarian or vegan, more tips on going vegan, and stocking the vegan pantry to get you started.
4. Flip through a vegetarian magazine such as VegNews, Vegetarian Times, Vegetarian Living or Laika.
5. Read a book about animals, vegetarianism or veganism, such as Vegan Main Street, The Ethics of What We Eat, 30-Day Vegan Challenge, The Face on Your Plate, Eating Animals, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows or When Elephants Weep.
6. Eat at a vegetarian or vegan restaurant. Check out Happy Cow for suggestions in your city or town.
7. Watch a veg-friendly or food film, such as Blackfish, Forks Over Knives, The Cove, Food Inc., Earthlings, Super Size Me, FRESH or Vegucated.
8. Listen to a vegan podcast, such as Our Hen House or Food for Thought.
9. Go vegetarian or vegan!
10. Hug an animal. If you can, visit an animal sanctuary.

How will YOU celebrate World Vegetarian Day and Vegetarian Awareness Month? Tell me in the comments!