A global movement that dates back to World War I is slowly being adopted in Costa Rica at just the right time. Meatless Monday is a 2003 initiative established by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; however, it dates back to a wartime policy enacted by the United States a hundred years ago. Considering that economic vegetarianism is a direct response to rising inflation and the financial doldrums in Costa Rica, Meatless Monday could become the next important social trend.

 

According to the official website of the movement:

 

Meatless Monday is not a new idea. During World War I, the U.S. Food Administration urged families to reduce consumption of key staples to aid the war effort. “Food Will Win the War,” the government proclaimed, and “Meatless Monday” and “Wheatless Wednesday” were introduced to encourage Americans to do their part. The effect was overwhelming; more than 13 million families signed a pledge to observe [these days.]

 

The campaign returned during World War II when President Franklin D. Roosevelt relaunched it to help that war’s efforts on the home front. In the immediate post-war years, President Harry S. Truman continued the campaign to help feed war-ravaged Europe.

 

In May, 2009, Ghent, Belgium, became the first non-U.S. city to go meatless. Shortly thereafter, Paul McCartney introduced the U.K. to Meat-Free Mondays. Meatless Monday is now active in 34 countries and growing because every nation can bring its unique culture, customs and cuisine to the table in meat free and vegetarian dishes.

 

Although Costa Rica has not yet officially joined this global movement, organizations such as Humane Society International (HSI) are undertaking efforts to support Meatless Monday. Take, for example, this press release from May:

 

Costa Rica Beer Factory is the first restaurant in this country to join the global Meatless Monday movement, which seeks to reduce meat consumption by means of introducing vegetarian options once a week. HSI Latin America worked with the restaurant insofar as implementing the program.

 

Meat consumption is one of the main causes behind climate change and other global issues. The Meatless Monday Movement helps to mitigate the ongoing environmental damage while promoting the consumption of healthy, plant-based foods.

 

Speaking on behalf of Costa Rica Beer Factory in Barrio Escalante, human resources manager Monica Mendoza explained that Meatless Monday allows the restaurant to augment is corporate commitment to social responsibility by fighting climate change. At the same time, the movement allows the restaurant to introduce variety to its menu with delicious, vegetarian offerings.

 

Meatless Monday Costa Rica has its own Facebook Timeline where vegetarian recipes are prominently featured and ,shared. At the time this report was filed, the Lunes Sin Carne Timeline in Costa Rica had more than 7,900 followers.