14 Easy Ways to Eat Less Meat

Many people are choosing to eat less meat for various reasons. Perhaps you want to save some money on groceries; we all know that meat is one of the more expensive products. Perhaps you’re worried about your health and the health of the environment. Or perhaps you want to experiment in the kitchen and broaden your culinary horizons.

Whatever your motivation is, Cook It is here to help. We firmly believe that vegetarian- and vegan-friendly foods can be as good, if not better, than dishes with meat. Therefore, we are excited to share this list of 14 easy ways to eat less meat to get you started. To point out, they don’t necessarily include giving up the product entirely. These are merely actionable ideas to put you on the right track.

1. If you like to have meat at most meals, start by replacing it with something else at just one: breakfast, for example. Give shakshuka, pancakes, or chia puddings a try! © DepositPhotos
2. Devote one dinner per week to beans. They are, in fact, an essential part of recipes for hearty and healthy vegan dinners, as they are a wonderful source of plant-based protein. Furthermore, they are rich in vitamins and minerals. © DepositPhotos
3. Allocate specific days of the week for eating meat. We’ve all heard about Meatless Monday, but you can take it a step further with Whole-Grain Wednesday or Spaghetti Saturday. © DepositPhotos
4. If you are trying to cut back gradually, consider saying no to red meat first, as it has a significantly bigger negative impact on the environment. © DepositPhotos
5. Easily boost protein at any meal by adding superfoods like chia seeds, edamame, or jackfruit — a storehouse of not only protein but also potassium, calcium, and iron. © DepositPhotos
6. Make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need. For example, if you have completely cut out meat from your diet, you generally need about twice as much iron as meat-eaters. © DepositPhotos
7. Join forces with a friend or family member. It is an excellent way to keep everyone motivated. © DepositPhotos
8. When making a recipe with ground meat, replace half of it with mushrooms or lentils. © DepositPhotos
9. You don’t have to cook everything from scratch. There are plenty of options for ready-made veggie burgers, for example. Although if you do enjoy preparing everything yourself, these beetroot cutlets are to die for! © DepositPhotos
10. Adjust your plate proportions — less meat, more veggies. Aim to keep meat to a fourth of your plate. © DepositPhotos
11. Figure out which vegetarian meat you’re most likely to enjoy. Options are limitless! © DepositPhotos
12. Then start cooking with it! © DepositPhotos
13. Browse our list of meat-free recipes — and start experimenting! © DepositPhotos
14. Be realistic about what you are not willing to give up. Obviously, it’s okay to have some things you just can’t say no to. For the most part, the key is to introduce small, intentional changes in your life and your diet, and be happy with your choices. © DepositPhotos

Are you someone who’s indifferent to meat or someone who cannot refuse a piece of juicy steak? Let us know in the comments.

Valerie

I am an English major with a love of languages and fiction, and with an incurable travel bug. In my free time, I read fantasy, drink copious amounts of coffee, and like to go see movies. Culinary art means everything to me. My main hypostasis is the taster, though. The music school has taught me to appreciate the symphony of airy meringues, to create harmonious overtures of light snacks, hard rock of meat, fish, and vegetables on the grill. Choir classes have accustomed me to hear and feel the people nearby and create perfect harmonies of sounds.