So it's not surprising that, together with the health benefits of eating less meat, more of us are turning towards vegetarian or flexitarian diets. It’s also an easy way to prepare budget-friendly meals for all the family.
If you think a vegetarian-leaning lifestyle sounds too hard here are 10 easy ways to help you eat less meat.
1. Switch to non-meat protein alternatives
Swap the meat in traditional recipes for alternatives such as pulses, tofu, quorn, or soya. Try a golden veggie shepherd's pie or vegetarian bolognese.
2. Cook vegetarian recipes for the whole family
If you're cooking for children as well as adults, it's even more important to ensure you've got the proteins, minerals and brain-boosting nutrients young people need. Try these vegetarian recipes for families.
3. Try filling and healthy soups
Soups are an easy meal option that you can cook in bulk and freeze. They're filling and healthy, especially if you incorporate pulses and serve with bread or pitta bread. Try this Moroccan split pea soup recipe.
4. Eat seasonal fruit and vegetables
Get to know what's in season. Eating food that's just been picked tastes better, is better value and is better for the planet.
5. Make your meat go further
Buy better quality meat and plan recipes to make the most of it. Learn how to make a roast chicken last a week.
6. Expand your veggie recipe repertoire
Go global and experiment with vegetarian recipes from other countries. Try these collections of recipes from around the world.
7. Fit food and cooking into your lifestyle
Find recipes that work for you and your lifestyle. If you're short of time, try these quick recipes.
If you have time in the morning to prepare a few simple dishes, consider investing in a slow cooker. Have a look at these 50 vegetarian slow cooker recipes or 35 slow cooker recipes for busy or lazy vegetarians.
8. Party food ideas
There are plenty of great dishes that work well for celebrations and parties — and BBQs don't have to involve shop-bought veggie burgers! Try these tasty veggie recipes for parties, picnics and BBQs.
9. Plan what you're going to cook
Planning gives you more chance to think creatively, rather than defaulting to your usual meat recipes. You'll find loads of ideas online — start with some of these flexitarian recipes. Planning ahead will mean more creativity in the kitchen.
10. Satisfying salad recipes
Often overlooked as a main dish, salads can make a filling meal, especially if you add beans, nuts, avocado or cheese. In the colder months you can choose warm ingredients such as roasted vegetables. See BBC Good Food vegetarian salads and 50 meal-worthy vegetarian salads.
Eating less and better meat is one of the key ingredients to a diet that is more sustainable and healthy for you and the planet.
