-
-
Some people are motivated to eat less meat by health concerns. Others are looking to trim their family budget. Some people would like to adopt a vegetarian diet. Whatever your motivations, there are simple ways to reduce the amount of meat that you consume in your diet. Read on to learn ways to eat less meat.
-
-
Introduction
- Consumption of large quantities of meat have been linked to increased risk of heart disease and some cancers.NPR: Study Links Red Meat To Cancer, Heart Disease (March 24, 2009) Meat is also expensive, straining a family food budget in tough times. In Diet for a Small Planet, Francis Moore Lappe made the case that the amount of resources used to produced meat were an issue of global environmental concern. Whatever your reasons for wanting to eat less meat, this guide will help you achieve your goal.
Step 1: Plan One Meatless Meal a Week
- A simple way to start eating less meat is to plan one meatless meal a week. A vegetable quiche or spaghetti without meatballs are familiar choices that should make the transition much simpler.
- You might also purchase a vegetarian cookbook and begin experimenting with unfamiliar foods, substituting bean- and tofu-based meals for dinners centered around meat. As you find more meatless meals you enjoy, you'll naturally cook them more frequently and should eventually work several meatless meals into your diet per week.
Step 2: Substitutions
If you are used to eating a lot of meat, you might ask yourself, "What am I going to eat now"? The truth is, there are a lot of non-meat foods out there, you just have to look. Focus more on grain such as breads and pastas. Cheese is a good protein source to replace meat in many situations. Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables is a healthy way to change up your diet with less meat. For more protein sources, try nuts and beans. Also give soy products such as tofu a try. Next time you are at a restaurant, skip over all the dishes that say chicken, steak, pork and find the dishes that do not contain meat. Many restaurants have a lot of non-meat dishes available.Step 3: Use Meat as a Condiment
If you are not ready to completely give up eating meat, try cutting down on portion size. Rather than planning on 4-8 ounces of meat per person per meal, look for meals than use 1-4 ounces of meat per person. Think of meat as a garnish or flavoring, rather than a main course. The recipes for stir fries, soups, and casseroles can all be adjusted to increase vegetables or grains and decrease the amount of meat used.Step 4: More Tips to Eat Less Meat
- Buy less meat when you grocery shop.
- Find vegetarian recepies that are delicious but do not contain meat.
- Visit Ethnic restaurants usually offer a good selection of meatless or low-meat meals.
- Decrease portion sizes when meat is the main course and add an additional vegetable side dish.
About this page
-
Page Views51
This page currently has no vertical manager.
