As a full-throttle, meat-loving member of the male persuasion, I think that I would have made a great caveman. I appreciate the whole experience of consuming animal protein -- gristle and fat included -- and utensils? Absolutely unnecessary when you have two able hands and a mouth full of teeth. (Come to think of it, one hand and dentures would probably work equally as well.) While that may sound barbaric and infinitely uncivilized, I think that it's crucial that I explain where I'm coming from so that you can fully grasp the incredulousness of what I'm about to tell you. Lately, something has been percolating in the nether regions of my brain...something of a deep green, and entirely earth-friendly nature. My commitment to a greener lifestyle has become so important to me that I've decided to re-evaluate the whole meat thing, and so...after a long 16 minutes of soul searching, I realized that passing on meat once or twice a week is not nearly as inconvenient as it sounds. In fact, all of us have probably been doing it for most of our lives without even realizing it. Despite the fact that the sight of a rare t-bone makes my heart skip a beat, I'm sticking to the part time vegetarianism plan, and here are the reasons why:

1) I cannot deny that I love the taste of pork, chicken and especially beef, but the very nature of factory farming leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.  The industry as a whole is placing a huge burden on our eco-system, not just in terms of crop production and irrigation but also via the massive volumes of waste and agricultural chemicals that pollute our environment. By refusing to purchase conventionally raised meat (even on a part time basis), I am making a making a more ethical, greener consumer decision.

2) Becoming a part-time veggie enables me to ease my conscience ever so slightly regarding the terrible treatment that conventionally raised factory farmed animals endure since I am not feeding into the system. I'm not kidding myself, though -- I realize that it's still going on during my spaghetti and vegetarian chili days and my small little token effort isn't making their lives any better. Whether I go full-veggie, choose to purchase organic, humanely raised meat, or find a comfort zone somewhere in the middle, the fact remains that until conventional meat production is entirely revamped, the industry will continue to treat animals like commodities. I just refuse to support it and laying off of the meat, even a few days a week, is one thing that I can do to take a stand.  

3) You've probably read about the Meat Free Mondays trend and quite possibly could be following it right now. If so, you're likely well aware of the health benefits associated with a plant-based diet. From higher fiber, antioxidants and phyto-chemicals to lower overall fat, eating veggies, whole grains and plant-proteins help to reduce cholesterol levels in the body which in turn reduces rates of type II diabetes, coronary heart disease, diverticular disease and other diet-related illnesses.  Plus, a nice little side effect is that you'll probably lose a little weight without really trying. 

4) There is no question that creating a home cooked vegetarian meal is more cost-effective -- plants and grains are always cheaper than meats. Even if you commit to going vegetarian just two days each week, you could stretch your dollars a lot farther. Some notoriously frugal yet filling veggie choices include legumes (like lentils, split peas, kidney beans, etc.), eggs, pasta, oatmeal, rice, and how about the great old standby, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches??

5) When I don't have to fuss with meat, I've noticed that I am able to streamline my meal preparation. It takes just a few minutes to chop up the fixins' for a huge salad or drop some spaghetti in a pot of boiling water, whereas with meat, you have to prep it, trim it, cook it, slice it -- frankly, sometimes it's a relief to pass on the process altogether and just eat a bowl of cereal with milk.

6) Going "part veg" enables all of us to make a small but measurable effort to change our lifestyles for the good of the planet. Recycling is great, but if all of us -- EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THE PLANET -- took a once-a-week vacation from meat, we would effectively be forcing the industry to cut back on the products that they generate. That in turn would cut back CO2 production, but imagine if we stepped up our meat eschewing ways to two times a week...or even three? These small changes would generate a big impact.

7) When I embrace part time vegetarianism, I'm more inclined to stay local during those days. Instead of jumping in the car and heading out to the nearest fast food joint, I forage through my cupboards to create a meals. My elected home-bound status means that my car stays in the garage, thereby taking a load off of my day's carbon footprint.

8) Believe it or not, I'm convinced that I have more pep in my step when I pass on meat in favor of greens and grains. It seems like I'm always a lot hungrier and can eat twice as much (which fulfills my gluttonous American tendencies) but all of that fiber makes me bouncy and you should see how my coat shines!

9) This benefit may seem hardly scientific, but simply put, I kind of like being a part-time vegetarian. It helps me to prove to myself that I'm not just talking the talk when I claim to be living a greener lifestyle -- I am definitely making it happen via my weekly actions.

10) My final full-time benefit of adopting a part-time vegetarian lifestyle is that we all become better human beings when we rise to the small challenges that crop up throughout our lives. Comparatively speaking, eschewing meat just one or two days is a cake walk compared to many of life's other curveballs, but it can help all of us to recognize that we are capable of accomplishing great things just by focusing and committing. This action can be the springboard for far more impressive and thoughtful eco-actions throughout our lives. If you asked me 3 months ago, I probably couldn't have imagined that the notion of a part-time "no meat" commitment could become my battle cry for greenie greatness, and yet here I am, now seriously thinking about how to do away with factory farming. I may be just one guy, but where there's a will, there's a way. Anyone care to advise?