Whether it’s for health, moral, or environmental reasons, many people are beginning to cut meat from their diets, or at the very least, reduce the amount they consume.

It’s not always an easy thing to do. I have spent time as a full blown carnivore, a pescatarian, a vegetarian, and a vegan. My diet has changed as I have moved through varying phases of my life and countries that have a different outlook on food. 

I have found that for me, what is working right now is a diet that restricts the amount of meat I eat, but doesn’t rule it out entirely. Maybe right now, you’re transitioning to a plant based diet, or you just want to cut back a bit and reduce your footprint. Either way, here are a few tips to help you cut back on the amount of meat you eat.

Meatless meals

Maybe right now you can’t imagine dinner without a big, heaping serving of meat. But what about breakfast and lunch? Skip the bacon with breakfast and do some eggs with salsa and blackbeans or overnight oats and fruit. And for lunch, that salad doesn’t need chicken! Just load it up with nuts,veggies and cheese, if you please. A couple alterations and you have just eliminated meat from two thirds of your meals for the day! Look at you go!  

Meat Substitutes

I grew up in a seriously meat-loving home. I’m talking meat every day, for every meal and a lot of Happy Meals. So when I tried suggesting meatless ragu to my parents, it did not go over well. –Until I tricked them into eating it! Muahaha! — But even my little carnivores couldn’t tell the difference once it was all spiced and sauced up! What I’m trying to say is that, maybe eating tofu in lieu of streak just won’t work, but when the meat is not the star of the show, like in pasta sauces or curries, start making the swap! 

Get a Cookbook

I think people only really struggle with going meatless when they don’t know what to do with vegetables. A lot of us have grown up only seeing them as side dishes or salads. But there’s a whole world of possibilities out there! Invest in a nice cookbook or get a cooking app that will give you fresh and exciting ideas for entirely plant based meals. Once you realize that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor when you give up meat, your transition will go a whole lot smoother.