Join Paul McCartney in Meat-Free Monday

Cutting back on meat?even one day a week?could help save the environment.

Don't take our word for it...ask Sir Paul McCartney.

"A lot of people go to the gym on a Monday. With meat-free Mondays, it's a bit like going to the gym but with the added advantage of protecting the planet," the avowed vegetarian said to the trade magazine The Grocer.

As we've reported in the past, if you do eat meat, choosing grass-fed cattle can contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and overall energy consumption according to Treehugger's Ready, Set, Green.

Ready, Set, Green also notes that regardless of how beef is raised, it's an energy-and water-intensive food to produce. Simply put, diets lower in any kind of meat create a smaller footprint.

So - just like you've been doing for the last 50 or some odd years ? listen to Paul. 'With a little luck,' you'll be cooking with hearty, meat-like substitutes like tofu, seitan or tempeh at least one night a week. Check out these 'mock meat' options and give it a shot!

Salivating over sustainable eats? Learn how to make your own with help from Emeril Lagasse in Planet Green TV's organic cooking show, Emeril Green.