Reduce Your Meat Consumption With Five Strategies

Many people are trying to reduce their meat consumption, especially in recent years. They do this for health reasons, for the environment, for personal taste or to help eliminate animal cruelty. However, many people don’t know how to do that in a healthy way.

Reducing meat consumption can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, and gout. However, for people who are not used to it , it can also be a very radical change to take such a step.

That is why in this article we will show you a number of strategies so that you can gradually start eating less meat. This makes it easier to adopt new eating habits.

Strategies to Reduce Your Meat Consumption

1. Know that meat is not essential for your health

There is a widespread belief that meat is essential to your overall health. However, this is a myth as there are a wide variety of foods that can provide us with the nutrients we need.

In this regard, it’s a good idea to start by reducing the frequency with which you consume meat per week and also reduce the portions you eat. Also remember that meat is not only beef and pork, but also chicken and poultry.

2. Vegetables and legumes are your best allies

An important fact is that you need to eat more of certain other foods if you want to reduce your meat consumption. This is so that you still get all the vitamins you need.

You should especially eat more vegetables, which provide you with all the iron and proteins your body needs. For example, you can include more lentils in your diet, as this is a great source of:

• protein
• fiber
• vitamin B
• minerals
• iron

However, there are also other good foods such as:

• beans
• soybeans
• rice
• oats
• wheat

3. Reduce your meat consumption by planning your weekly shopping

A fairly simple strategy you can implement to reduce your meat consumption is to stop buying meat. After all, you can’t eat meat if you don’t have it at home!

So try to buy more vegetables, fruits and legumes when you do your weekly shopping. You’ll be amazed at the variety of plant-based foods you can find at your local market and the wide variety of meals you can make with them.

4. Reduce meat consumption step by step

As we mentioned above, it is important that you gradually reduce the amount of meat to effectively reach your goal. For that you can start with:

• Stop eating meat for breakfast.
• Take vegetables as a substitute for meat several times a week. Salads, omelets and vegetable stews are also good options.
• Look for new meatless recipes. If you discover all the possibilities, you will be much more encouraged to reduce your meat consumption.

If you want to reduce your meat consumption for health reasons, the best strategy is to opt for low-fat products and lean meats such as turkey and chicken.

Also, if you want to reduce your meat consumption by adopting a vegan lifestyle, you will want to completely eliminate your consumption of anything containing meat or animal products.

It is always easier to introduce changes gradually so that your body can better process the dietary changes.

5. Eat fish instead of meat

If you are one of those people who want to stop eating meat for health reasons and you don’t plan to follow a vegetarian diet, just add more fish to your meals. This is a great substitute for other meats in most recipes.

Salmon, for example, is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and good oils. Therefore, you can eat it very well instead of other meat. Other fish such as zander, sea bass and hake are also low in fat and quite healthy for your body.

Conclusion

If you want to change your eating habits and reduce your meat consumption, keep in mind that you are giving your body time to adjust to any change, so you have to do it gradually.

When you finally stop eating meat, you will definitely notice the results and you will feel much better! Thank you for reading!