10 Ways to Cut Back on Animal Products Without Going Vegan
“If you want to save 1300 gallons of water this year:
Don’t flush the toilet for 6 months OR
Don’t take a shower for 3 months OR
Don’t eat a burger for lunch today.”
I saw this image and read this quote a few years ago and it shocked me! I had never considered how much the meat and dairy industry was taking a toll on our environment, but once I was confronted with that information, I knew I needed to make a change. I had previously cut back on my dairy intake for health reasons, but this encouraged me to start doing the same with my meat consumption as well.
The idea of becoming vegan or vegetarian can feel very overwhelming for some people, and approaching it with an all or nothing mentality certainly would be an overwhelming adjustment! Luckily, small changes can have a bit impact! Below I’ve compiled the top tips that helped me start cutting back on my intake and use of animal products.
Tips to Cut Back on Animal Products
1) Make meat an accent, not the focus.
There’s an excellent book written by the chef Dan Barber called “The Third Plate.” In this book, Barber talks about how the face of the culinary world is shifting away from meat heavy dishes to plates that rely on a more comprehensive combination of ingredients where meat is merely an accent to the dish, or gone altogether. When I decide to cook with meat at home, I always try to keep this in mind. Some examples of this include: adding a few pieces of chicken to a stir-fry rather than eating a whole chicken breast, or choosing to take the ground beef out of your next red sauce.
2) Drink dairy free milk
This is one of the easiest swaps to make thanks to the abundance of milk alternatives that are now available. My personal favorites are oat milk for my morning matcha (my husband uses it in his lattes) or coconut milk for my smoothies. Oat milk has a delicious, creamy texture and is the most enviornmentally friendly of the milk alternatives, so if you haven’t tried it, you have to give it a shot! You can also try soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, or other nut milks as well.
3) Choose vegetarian meals when you go out to eat.
This was the first big change I started making when I cut back on animal products! It’s an easy way to start reducing your meat intake, but it is also great for your health as many restaurants use low-quality meat that can be full of additives and hormones.
4) Buy local eggs, meat and cheese.
On the other hand, choosing to buy local eggs, meat and cheese is a great way to make a better choice for your body and the environment. Shopping local cuts down on the carbon footprint of these products, as well as support farmers who treat animals in a humane way. Yes, it is usually more expensive than what you might find at a big grocery store, but we are aiming for quality over quantity anyways.
5) Make more vegetarian meals at home.
If you aren’t a super confident cook, sometimes it can be intimidating to stray outside of what you are familiar with, but cooking vegetarian meals is often easier and less time consuming than meat dishes. Many vegetarian receipes are full of amazing spices and flavors because they aren’t relying on the fat from the meat to add flavor to the dish. Here are links to some of my favorite vegetarian meal options to help get you started!
6) Use oil instead of butter.
This is a small swap, but it’s worth mentioning as it can also have a positive affect on your health. Using oils such as olive oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil and coconut oil are great alternatives to butter. They are better for you and better for the environment. Experiment with the different types to see which taste you prefer! I generally use coconut oil in sweeter dishes or baked goods, and choose olive oil for more savory meals.
7) Cook with coconut milk instead of cream.
Similar to the suggestion above, but this change can help save tons of calories when you’re cooking and of course is a delicious, vegan option. Coconut milk is excellent is savory dishes like shrimp and grits or biscuits and gravy, and also works well in desserts! I suggest buying canned coconut milk to cook with, and to use coconut milk from a carton for drinks.
8) Reconsider leather or other material goods made from animal products
This one is a bit obvious, but one of the most difficult parts of change is breaking the habits we don’t think much about. Buying clothing, bags or furniture with leather might not be something we even consider before doing so. There are so many vegan alternatives to leather products that making the swap is easier than ever!
One of my favorite finds last year was this vegan leather purse from Pixie Mood. They have tons of cute styles and my bag has held up great! Shop Pixie Mood here.
9) Know what’s in your products
Animal products can be hiding in places you might never expect them to be. It’s a good idea to take some time to research what is in many of your household and beauty products to make sure that you are choosing items that are vegan and cruelty free.
10) Be committed to the small changes.
Keep in mind that the goal is not to change everything at once or to never make a mistake, but rather being committed to the small changes will help you be more successful over time and will end up leading to a much bigger impact than getting discouraged and choosing to just stick to your current habits.
I hope this blog gave you some helpful information about ways to start cutting back on animal products, and that you will give some of them a try! What is one change you want to start incorporating into your routine?