Easy ways to eat less meat (and why it’s better for you)

Research has shown that most of us are eating far too much meat and it can be bad for our health. We’re not suggesting you have cauliflower ‘steak’ but there are a few simple swaps that will reduce your meat intake and be better for your health. Plus, it will also help your bank balance.

March 3, 2022

Use half the meat called for in a recipe

Rather than giving up meat-based recipes entirely, try cutting back on the amount of meat you use. This is easier for recipes which use minced, sliced, or diced meat, such as casseroles, soups, stews, and stir-fries. Depending on the dish you are making, you could substitute half the meat with lentils, mushrooms, chickpeas or just add more vegetables.

Cut down on your meat meals

Make one meal a day meat free.
Have meat free Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday – whichever is best for you.
Reduce your portion size; you don’t need a steak the size of a dinner plate, so choose something smaller and fill up on salad or vegetables.

Choose easy meals with less meat

Meatballs: finely chop vegetables and add them to the minced meat.
Curries: replace some or all the meat with chickpeas, lentils, paneer cheese, mushrooms, or potatoes.
Tacos, burritos, or chilli con carne: swap the mince for chunky veg and mixed or refried beans.
Lasagne: you can make it meat free by using a spinach and ricotta filling or reduce the amount of meat in the sauce and add chopped veggies instead.
Shepherd’s pie: reduce the amount of mince and add lentils or finely chopped vegetables.
Love a pie? Try delicious Greek spanakopita instead – it's made with flaky filo pastry, spinach, creamy feta, and ricotta cheeses. 
Burgers: add finely grated vegetables to your burger mix. You probably won’t even notice the difference.