Courtesy of Daybreak TV - Our Daily Bread host Father Paul Seil and Chef Chris Rickers, make a meatless pizza in this month's episode of Our Daily Bread.

This month on “Our Daily Bread,” host Father Paul D. Seil learns about Meatless Mondays. Meatless Monday is an international campaign that encourages people not to eat meat on Mondays to improve their health and the health of the planet. Reducing meat consumption has been shown to limit the risk of cancer including breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer; reduce risk of heart disease; and fight obesity. 

Father Seil’s guest in the kitchen is chef Chris Rickers from Kenmore Mercy hospital’s Dining Inn Café, which is now offering vegetarian entrées on Mondays. 

“Eating less meat, even forgoing it just one day a week, can have profoundly beneficial effects for our environment as well as our health,” Rickers said. “Less meat equals fewer carbon emissions, reduced water use, and less use and consumption of unnecessary antibiotics.

“Kenmore Mercy’s associates are very supportive of our Go Green efforts and they understand the importance of eating healthy. Vegetarians in particular are excited to see these options, while others are pleased with our creativity and happy to try something new.”

Trying something new takes determination and dedication. 

“As is all of Catholic Health, Kenmore Mercy is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint,” Rickers said. “The food service team has been a champion on the green front, switching from styrofoam to recyclable containers, eliminating water bottles and separating garbage for recycling. Meatless Monday extends our green efforts by educating people to eat healthier.”

The hospital established a rooftop garden to produce fresh and organically grown herbs and tomatoes for use in recipes for patients, visitors and staff in 2010.

“Because the hospital uses substantial quantities of food, we have made a commitment to sustainable cuisine,” Rickers said. “Throughout this entire transformation, we have learned that people do care about their environment, they want to be healthier, and are glad that vegetarian choices are more cost-efficient and taste great too.”

To learn more about Meatless Mondays tune in to “Our Daily Bread,” Saturday, March 10, at 5:30 a.m. and noon on WKBW-TV Ch. 7. You’ll not only expand your mind, but your recipe book too, and just in time for Lent. 

On the menu is Father Seil’s vegan chili, personal pan caprese pizza and an open face eggplant parmesan sandwich. So remember to check the web site at www.odbtv.org to download these delicious dishes.

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