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Consuming less meat is good for our bodies and the environment. Here’s what you can do if you’d like to get started.

More and more people are trying to reduce the amount of meat they consume, whether that means turning to vegetarianism, veganism, or reducing the amount of meat they consume on a daily basis. Reducing your meat intake can help you lower your blood pressure, increase your metabolism and reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

Not only is eating meat every day less healthy for your body, the meat industry is also harmful for the environment, not to mention the animals themselves. Animal agriculture releases a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions, greatly affecting climate change. While your sole contribution won’t do much in the grand scheme of things, incorporating more vegetables and grains into your diet can be very beneficial, especially when approaching the topic with measure and low stakes.

Here are 5 simple ways to eat less meat:

Start off slow

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When trying a meatless diet, it helps to start off small, with realistic goals that allow for some margin of error, because meat cravings are real. If you’re used to eating meat every day of the week, start off with one meatless day, slowly adding in more days if you feel like it. This pace allows you to get to know your meatless foods, which dishes you enjoy, and it also gives your body some time to adapt to these new changes.

Buy a cookbook

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While you don’t need to splurge on a vegetarian cookbook, it helps to have someplace where you can reliably obtain recipes that will make your transition into veggies a much simpler and pleasant one. This can help introduce you to new ingredients and dishes that you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.

Have a friend or partner join you

Workout buddies are popular for a reason: they help you stay accountable. If you have a friend who’s also interested in eating less meat, make a plan together. This can be made up of video chats or text messages exchanged in order to get meal ideas, or where someone cooks a big batch of vegetarian food and splits it with their buddy. It all works.

Plan your menus

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When cooking, it’s important to have a menu, that way you can shop properly and the meals can last through their intended days. When shopping for a meatless day, it’s important to get creative and to craft full meals that won’t leave you feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Plan before you shop and it’ll be easier to stick to your schedule and goals. You can also find tons of recipes on Instagram. Accounts such as The Feed Feed and Minimalist Baker will ensure you start off on the right foot!

Don’t punish yourself

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Lastly, whenever you’re trying out a new workout routine or changing up your eating habits, it’s important to expect some challenges. If it’s difficult to consume less meat, reduce your amount of days and push yourself slowly, that way your goals are easier to achieve.

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5 Easy Ways To Eat Less Meat