'Meatless Monday' growing movement in Houston schools

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The "Meatless Monday" movement is picking up steam on social media and now in local school cafeterias.

The Humane Society of the United States is currently promoting the movement, which encourages a healthier lifestyle by avoiding any meat on Mondays, at school districts across our country.

"There is an abundance of research that now tells us that diets high in meat consumption are associated with obesity," said Eddie Garza, food policy coordinator for the Humane Society.

The movement is helping create awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic and has been implemented at HISD. The district has been serving Meatless Monday options since December of last year.

The University of Houston also offers a large variety of meatless food options on Monday and is looking at expanding the program with cooking demonstrations.