5 Easy Ways To Eat Less Meat
We’ve all heard that eating less meat is good for animals and the environment, but if that isn’t reason enough to cut back on the beef, what about your own health? Studies show that eating less meat is one of the easiest ways to quickly improve your wellness.
According to Mayo Clinic, people that eat red meat are at a higher risk for certain health complications, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. John Hopkins University shared that a plant-based diet is easier to digest, and has helped many with avoiding digestion-related diseases. Eating less meat is also proven to help people have more energy and feel less lethargic. A study from Harvard contributed that eating red meat is linked to potential cancer-causing compounds, and that plant-based eaters often live longer. The news is in, and experts agree that cutting back on meat can only help.
Taking something away that you’ve always eaten is tough, even when it will help you feel better in the long run. But eating less meat doesn’t have to mean going fully vegetarian. There are many ways to eat less meat, many of which can even be easy or fun! Here’s just a couple ways you could begin a journey of eating less meat, for whatever reason you want to do it.
1. Try #MeatlessMonday
One way to begin cutting out meat is to try Meatless Monday, which has become a trend online. Whether or not you post and hashtag your food, cutting out meat one day a week could make a big difference in your health if you are someone who eats meat at most meals. Once you do one day a week, you’ll see how easy it is to do more - or if one day is all you can do consistently, that’s still better than nothing!
2. Cook Your Favorite Dishes Without Meat
A couple of meatless dishes a week would also make a huge difference, and spreading them throughout the week might be easier for some than a whole day without it. If you look through the recipes you make frequently, you’ll find that most of your favorite dishes can be made without meat - casseroles, lasagnas, soups, and more.
3. Instead of Taking Away, Add
If you don’t like the idea of just taking meat out of dishes, adding something new to them when you remove the meat can create a new favorite! Some good substitutions for meat in dishes can be tofu, beans, or “fake” versions of meat, such as veggie burgers and chick’n. This tactic can also be fun, because it means experimenting with new foods. Many people struggle with getting bored of eating the same foods over and over, and this is something that forces you to try new dishes, which could make you enjoy your meals even more!
4. Putting The Money Towards A Reward
Besides creating potential health complications, eating a lot of meat can be bad for your wallet. Meat is one of the most expensive grocery items, and eating less of it can make a huge difference on your spending at the store. If you want to reduce your meat intake for your health but can’t find the motivation to do it, see how much less your grocery bill is without it, and put that money towards something fun you want instead! When you’re buying that new clothing item you’ve always wanted or treating yourself at the local coffee shop, you’ll find it easier to skip another meat-filled meal.
5. Eating Out As An Exception
One reason it’s difficult to go vegetarian is because of the social impact. It can be tough to find restaurants with good vegetarian options, and you might feel awkward turning down food at a friend or family gathering because a meal has meat in it. But reducing meat intake doesn’t mean going off of it completely, and one option is to make eating out an exception! You can cook all meatless meals at your own house and only eat meat at restaurants, weddings, graduation parties, etc - places it would be a hassle to turn it down. Since most of the eating you do is at your own house anyway, this is a way to greatly reduce your intake, while not making it a stressful situation.
Once you start eating less meat, your body will thank you. Not only will it affect your health in ways you can’t necessarily see, you may find it makes you feel better as well. Many people actually can feel a difference in their energy levels, mood, and more. There’s only one way to find out - give one of these suggestions a try!