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Health Watch: Meatless Mondays

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Meatless Monday's is a campaign that's catching on to improve overall health. You might want to change your Monday menus. Doctors and nutritionists say giving up meat once a week can make you healthier.

Meatless Monday is a grassroots campaign urging Americans to cut all meat from their diet, including chicken and fish, once a week.

The Meatless Monday campaign is being promoted in association with Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

"I love it. I think it's a great idea," said Toby Morris, a Registered Dietitian. She says giving up meat once a week has a variety of benefits.

"Plant based foods tend to be higher in fiber than animal proteins. They tend to be much higher in antioxidants and perhaps lower in some of the carcinogens that we know to be present in meats," said Toby.

Plant based diets are also lower in fat and calories. Studies show they can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. If you're worried about losing out on protein, don't.

"You're not going to suffer from protein deficiency because one day a week, you went to a meatless Monday," said Jo Ann Hattner, a Registered Dietitian. She says instead of meat substitute protein rich beans, legumes, even nuts.

"There are many choices out there that you can actually select," said Jo Ann.

There are a growing number of institutions and restaurants now offering meat-free menu items on Monday's.

RELATED LINK:

Meatless Monday - http://www.meatlessmonday.com/

Reported by Stephanie Stahl, CBS 3

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