Independence from Meat Day Date in the current year: July 4, 2024

Although the first use of the term “vegetarian” is dated around 1839, the practice of abstaining from eating meat has existed since ancient times. In most cases, it was promoted by philosophers and religious groups in conjunction with the idea of nonviolence toward animals.

Today, people choose vegetarian or semi-vegetarian diets for a variety of reasons. Some people do not eat all or some meats simply because they don’t like the taste or smell. Many people choose to abstain from meat for health reasons because meatless diets offer lower levels of saturated fat and cholesterol and higher levels of certain micronutrients.

The practice of abstaining from meat is also strongly linked with a number of religions. In some religions, such as Jainism, vegetarianism is mandatory. Some religions actively encourage abstaining from meat, even though it is not mandatory. Finally, in a number of religions, including Christianity, abstaining from meat is part of fasting.

Finally, a significant number of people avoid meat because of animal cruelty and/or the environmental impacts of animal agriculture, which include greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, biodiversity loss, contribution to antibiotic resistance due to the extensive use of antibiotics in livestock, and significant consumption of energy, water, food, land, and other resources.

Independence from Meat Day was launched by Vegetarian Awareness Network in Knoxville, Tennessee. One of the reasons why it is celebrated on the same day as the Fourth of July is that it is one of the most popular days for barbecuing. The founders of Independence from Meat Day encourage people to try and break the habit of grilling meat outside on Independence Day and enjoy some delicious grilled vegetables, mushrooms, or plant-based burgers instead.

The best way to celebrate Independence from Meat Day is to go vegetarian or even vegan, but we understand that this option isn’t for everyone. However, choosing to abstain from eating meat for a day may be your first step towards going flexitarian. Even simply reducing the amount of meat in your diet is good for your health and the environment, so we suggest that you spend July 4 enjoying delicious meat-free dishes and looking for vegetarian and vegan recipes to try later.

If your friends and family are on board, you can invite them for a meatless BBQ or host a vegetarian potluck dinner. If they are not, well, that’s their choice. Let them eat what they want but make sure there are meatless options for those who want to give vegetarian dishes a try.

Independence from Meat Day isn’t the only holiday created to promote a meatless or semi-meatless diet. Its “sister holidays” include World Vegetarian Day (October 1), World Vegan Day (November 1), National Veggie Burger Day (June 5), Eat Flexitarian Day (June 12), and many others.