Why You Should Eat Less Meat - Benefits Of Eating Less Meat

Whether you would like to reduce your meat intake at a gradual pace or dive into the deep end and go fully vegan, there are many positive changes you’ll likely notice in your life. Brighter skin, increased energy, and weight loss are just a few of the changes that people see once they ditch animal products!

Disclaimer: I’m not here to tell you that you must go vegan right away or go vegan at all–because you don’t have to be fully vegan to make a difference.

However, we should all consider reduction as this is a very attainable, flexible goal that everyone can aim for. So if you need some convincing, here are four reasons to cut down on meaty meals as well as four tips that will help you get started.

‘Protein’ is the word on everyone’s lips when the topic of veganism is discussed. However, I can assure you that you are more than likely getting enough protein if you’re getting enough calories. Eating a diet that includes vegetables, soy foods, plant-based meat alternatives, whole grains, nuts, seeds, pulses, and legumes will amount to more than enough protein. You might be surprised at how much protein certain vegetables have! If you are still concerned about your protein intake, make sure to add tofu and lentils to your shopping list each week. 

Regularly eating meat is linked to an increased risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Red meat and processed meat are foods to particularly avoid as there is strong evidence to suggest that they increase the risk of bowel cancer. By replacing meat-heavy meals with an array of vibrant, plant-based foods, you can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, prevent certain cancers and much more. 

Many people are put off by the idea of becoming a flexitarian, reducetarian, vegetarian or vegan because they don’t want to fail–but it’s not a test. Nobody is waiting for you to slip up. So you can make your own rules depending on what works for you. Instead of labelling your diet, set yourself small challenges, e.g. can you be vegan for one weekend or forgo meat products for an entire holiday? 

Our increasing hunger for meat and dairy is consuming earth’s natural resources faster than is sustainable. Humans wipe up entire forests to make room for growing animal feed or pastures, which displaces indigenous communities and drives species towards extinction. The destruction of carbon sinks, such as forests, also releases carbon back into the atmosphere, contributing to the burgeoning climate crisis. 

There are hundreds of exciting and delicious plant foods out in the world for us to try. So why would we want to keep eating the same meats over and over again? Not only are there hundreds of plant foods, but they are untold ways of preparing and eating them, too. You can reduce your meat consumption by filling your diet with various new dishes and ingredients. Fall in love with cooking, visit food markets, enjoy dishes from different cultures, buy fresh bread with olive oil, and nourish your body with fruits and vegetables. You will have so many tasty new foods to eat that you will barely think about meat anymore–trust me!

There’s no shame in having a craving for something meaty. Plants can easily satiate these cravings, but you need to know the right ways to prepare them. For example, have you ever heard of buffalo tofu wings? Or how about cauliflower steak? What about stir-fried seitan? Here are a few recipes to inspire you:

We can learn so much by observing other cultures, especially when it comes to food. For example, if you think that you don’t like spinach, try preparing it how they do in different cuisines and maybe you’ll find out that you do like it after all. In Indian cuisine, there’s a dish called saag bhaji, which involves cooking spinach for a long time with onions, garlic, spices and oil.

Meat alternatives are rising in demand for a reason–they’re delicious! It’s incredible that we no longer need to eat animals in order to eat our favourite foods anymore. We can get all of the flavours and textures we need from plants. And no, I don’t only mean veggie burgers and tofu; plant-based meat alternatives are much tastier than they once were. Here are a few recipes to inspire you: