Studies have been showing us for some time now that eating red meat can increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Meat might be delicious, pair beautifully with a glass of wine, and work with a multitude of recipes, but it’s not the best food product for our health.

What’s more, those who eat less meat or none at all often benefit from a lower risk of heart disease and a healthier body weight. Whether you want to decrease your meat intake or cut it out of your diet altogether, the following information might help.

Become a Bean Lover

Almost any meat dish can become a bean dish with one ingredient swap. Even your favourite tacos, soups, and stews can be equally as delicious with beans as they are with meat. Start small by replacing the meat with beans in your favourite recipes. Play around with different beans like chickpeas, cannellini, and lentils.

You will even grow to love the depth of flavour from a bean-based chilli dish that you may have previously loaded full of beef mince.

Look at High-Protein Grains

If you’re worried about getting enough protein by saying goodbye to meat, then don’t be. You can add many grains to your diet to offer as much protein as your body needs. Buckwheat, wild rice, millet, and some pasta types can all form the staple of any delicious dish you prepare for yourself or your family.

There’s also no risk of grains getting boring, for they are versatile and work in many dishes. Take a quick look online and gain access to thousands of recipes. A popular option is creating a grain bowl with roasted vegetables and a savoury sauce.

Learn to Love Tofu

Love it or tolerate it, it’s worth at least trying it. Tofu can be an acquired taste, but it’s a versatile product that you can add to nearly any dish. You can brown it, crisp the edges, or just have it soft. Because it has almost no flavour, you can add strong ingredients to take care of the flavour element, while tofu takes care of the texture.

If you don’t plan to go entirely meat-free, consider adding a small amount of ground meat to your tofu dish for extra flavour.

Try Plant-Based Meats

If you’re struggling to cut down your meat intake through a lack of creativity with food recipes, then consider plant-based meats. Manufacturers have been busy crafting sausages, bacon, burger patties, and more. They look, taste, and smell like meat, but they contain plant ingredients instead.

You can then prepare the same dishes you know and love, but with a slight twist on the meat products you would typically use.

Incorporate Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are some of the most versatile foods out there. You can eat them whole, crush them up, chop them, toast them, and even turn them into butter. There are even vegan cheese varieties with nuts in them.

While you don’t have to cut meat out of your diet altogether, it’s worth exploring the different options available. Broaden your horizons and enjoy the health benefits that could come with doing so.