HERE'S some food for thought – what if, for just one day a week, you had to be a vegetarian?

Could you forgo that chicken sandwich, put that ham back into the fridge or choose a salad instead of some salmon?

Nitin Mehta believes you should and thinks it could even be the recipe for the survival of the planet if you do.

The lifelong vegetarian also tried to convince Croydon Council to introduce Meat Free Mondays in schools and local authority buildings.

Although his radical plan was knocked back last year, Mr Mehta, 57, plans to revive the idea in the hope the council will "see sense".

He said: "I was disappointed because it was discussed but never taken seriously.

"The amount of meat we consume has such huge implications for our personal health and the wellbeing of the planet that the issue cannot be ignored. I still believe that Croydon can be at the forefront of radical thinking and be the first place in the UK to become vegetarian for one day a week."

Mr Mehta has led Croydon's meat-free movement since he founded the Young Indian Vegetarians, based in West Croydon, in 1978.

The group initially championed the cause of introducing vegetarian options in schools for Indian students who had come to London from East Africa.

Since then Mr Mehta has been lionised for his work in promoting vegetarianism and animal rights across the world.

In 1981 he won international acclaim for his efforts to end the slaughter of frogs in India and the export of their legs as a culinary delicacy.

He was also appointed MBE in 1999 and received an award from Ken Livingstone, then the Mayor of London, for services to the capital in 2002.

But his biggest achievement, he says, would be to convince people in Croydon and beyond of the importance of a meat-free diet. He points to statistics that show livestock accounts for as much as 51 per cent of greenhouse gases.

Mr Mehta said: "All the statistics and research proves that livestock is a significant cause of global warming.

"Almost 40 per cent of grain in the world is being consumed by the billions of animals we breed each year, while most of the Brazilian rainforest has been pulled down to make way for cattle ranches to provide Americans with beef.

"It's such a wasteful way to feed the planet and it's going to cause massive problems in the future."

The mission of Young Indian Vegetarians, Mr Mehta explains, is to "bring about a 21st century in which the human race will finally make peace with the animal kingdom".

It's a noble cause, but is it achievable?

"Yes, I think it is because attitudes are changing," Mr Mehta says.

"A growing number of people and organisations realise the benefits of a meat-free diet and that the old stereotypes don't apply. I've been a vegetarian all my life and I'm fit and healthy. My dad, who was born vegetarian, is 90 years-old and he is still going strong.

"The UK is supposed to be a nation of animal lovers. We need to prove we are by ending the mass production and consumption of meat.

"If we don't make a big change it will have catastrophic environmental consequences."