Humane Eating
Want to reduce your meat consumption or go veg? Check out these great resources!

Reasons to Eat Less Meat

  • Billions of animals are slaughtered each year in the U.S. Close to 10 billion chickens, cows, pigs and other animals are slaughtered for human consumption in the United States.
  • Meat production accelerates climate change. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide far more than transportation.
  • Meat production uses excessive amounts of water. The water needs of livestock are tremendous, far above those of vegetables or grains. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef. Soy tofu produced in California requires 220 gallons of water per pound.
  • Meat production relies heavily on fossil fuels. On average, about 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S. Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein. .
  • Meat consumption increases the risk of heart disease. Recent data from a Harvard University study found that replacing saturated fat-rich foods (for example, meat and full fat dairy) with foods that are rich in polyunsaturated fat (for example, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds) reduces the risk of heart disease by 19%
  • Meat consumption increases the risk of diabetes. Research suggests that higher consumption of red and processed meat increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Advice adapted from:

Simple Ways to Eat Less Meat

  • Adapt your favorite recipes. You can make many of your favorite dishes by either leaving out the meat or replacing it with tasty vegetables. Try adding beans instead of ground beef to your next pot of chili or top your pizza with mushrooms and peppers instead of pepperoni and sausage.
  • Replace meat with meat alternatives. This is another great way to reduce your consumption of meat without sacrificing your favorite foods. There's a wide variety of meat substitutes on the market – plain tofu, marinated tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein (TVP), veggie burgers, veggie hot dogs, ‘chicken' nuggets, and the list goes on! Try a variety of brands to find ones that work for you and your family.
  • Bulk up meals with fruits and veggies. Throw in fresh produce to stews, casseroles and pasta dishes. These healthy foods are full of fiber, leaving you feeling satisfied longer, and never deprived.
  • Enliven your meals with bold new flavors. It will be tough to change your diet unless new meals have fresh, exciting tastes. Stock your kitchen with hot and spicy condiments, garlic and fresh herbs to add flavor to every dish.
  • Cut out “total meat” dishes. Eat more dishes where meat is a secondary ingredient, like lasagna, pizza and soup and cut out dishes that feature meat, like pork chops, hamburgers and steak.
  • Stop preparing meat at home. Even if you still eat it when you go out to restaurants or to a friend's house, not fixing it at home is an easy way to reduce your consumption of meat. 
  • Switch to meat-free meals at least one day a week. Get tips, recipes, and more from the Meatless Monday movement

Advice taken from: World Society for the Protection of Animals. "Consider Reducing Meat in Your Diet." Eat Humane. WSPA, n.d. Web. 6 March 2012.

Recipe Websites

Food Blogs

Online Dining Resources

Cookbooks

  • The 30-Minute Vegan by Mark Reinfield and Jennifer Murray
  • Candel 79 Cookbook: Modern Vegan Classics from New York's Premier Sustainable Restaurant by Joy Pierson
  • Everyday Happy Herbivore by Lindsay S. Nixon
  • The Garden-Fresh Vegetable Cookbook by Andrea Chesman
  • Happy Herbivore by Lindsay S. Nixon
  • The Joy of Vegan Baking by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
  • Quick & Easy Vegan Comfort Food by Alicia C. Simpson
  • Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook by Kim Barnouin
  • Student's Vegetarian Cookbook, Revised: Quick, Easy, Cheap, and Tasty Vegetarian Recipes by Carole Raymond
  • Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero
  • Vegan Deserts by Hannah Kaminsky
  • Vegan Diner by Julie Hasson
  • Vegan Cookies by Terry Hope Romero and Isa Chandra Mosokowitz
  • Vegan Cupcakes by Terry Hope Romero and Isa Chandra Mosokowitz
  • Vegan on the Cheap by Robin Robertson
  • The Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
  • Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madiso
  • Viva Vegan! by Terry Hope Romero

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