Why eat less meat?... and 5 recipes to get you there!

Why eat less meat?... and 5 recipes to get you there!

Reducing your meat consumption isn’t easy! What food lover doesn’t love the enchanting aroma and tender, moist texture of a filet mignon just off the grill? Just writing these lines makes our mouths water. 🤤

But did you know that the benefits of eating less meat are numerous and continue accumulating over the years? Looking at recent studies, it’s clear: vegetarianism is a must for humanity!

See why such a shift is necessary, then check out our 5 easy-to-make recipes to make it happen. 👇
 

2 advantages of reducing your meat consumption

1. A helping hand for the environment

It’s hard to ignore the subject (especially as it’s constantly in the news): there is no planet B. But at the rate things are going, we’ll say sooner rather than later: no planet A is left. 

Recent studies have shown that reducing meat consumption would boost the environment. In fact, it’s no longer even a “benefit”... it’s an imperative! We MUST eat less meat to reduce the environmental impact caused by the food needs of a growing world population (it will be 10 billion by 2050, compared with 7.5 billion today).

The figures speak for themselves:

Beef production alone contributes 25% of the GHGs (greenhouse gases) caused by food production in the world... that’s got to hurt!

And from there, the equation is simple: a growing global population = an ever-increasing demand for meat = a growing production of greenhouse gases.

2. A helping hand for your health

In developed countries, consumers of red meat abound... as do the deaths and health problems associated with this consumption.

A study published in 2019 clarifies that reducing meat consumption would significantly reduce diet-related deaths (and thus prevent an untold number of needless deaths every year). 

Red meat is packed with cholesterol, saturated fat and iron. And all of this—when consumed in moderation—tends to promote heart disease, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. 

Tips for reducing your meat consumption

The solutions to these problems are few and far between. You have to plan your diet. For example, you can:

• Eat more insects (already part of the dietary routine in some parts of the world)
• Vary your diet (flexitarianism, for example, allows for occasional meat consumption while promoting the benefits of a plant-based diet)
• Become vegetarian/vegan (and completely eliminate meat from your diet)

To reduce your meat consumption, take it one step at a time:

• Review your eating habits
• Take it one step at a time (you won’t become a vegetarian overnight... give yourself a chance by gradually reducing the number of meals that contain meat)
• Test new flavours (who says chilli sin carne isn't as good as chilli con carne?)
• Opt for lentils and beans (both delicious and packed with protein) as substitutes.
• Define your objectives
• Reorganize your pantry, fridge and grocery list (to avoid temptations)

Because we at Crazy Leeks care about the environment and your health, we’ve come up with 5 easy recipes to help you make the switch. 🍴

5 recipes for veganizing your diet

Quinoa and leek croquettes: pure yum! (in French)

Made with leeks, quinoa, carrots, eggs and Panko, these delicious croquettes take only 10 minutes to prepare!

For a special touch, top with a garnish of crispy leeks. A real treat!

Finally, you can accompany these croquettes with salad, home fries or potatoes or use them as meatballs for veggie mini-burgers... Believe us, even the kids will love them!

Shrimps, ramen and leeks: ingredients for an exquisite soup (in French)

This recipe is perfect for those who want to reduce their consumption of red meat without going vegetarian (remember: you have to take it one step at a time!).

With its few ingredients and savoury flavours, this soup will charm you! Ready in 40 minutes, it’s one of the best homemade ramen soups around.

Leeks and curry on a bed of rice

This recipe has only advantages:

• It helps you eat less meat
• It has only 4 ingredients, including rice (yes, 4!).
• Ready in 20 minutes
• Vegan, gluten-free and oil-free

What more could you ask for?

Chilli with textured soy protein: as good as the classic version (in French)

Quick to make, this chilli is just as good as its meat version. Why is that? Because in chilli, the taste of the other ingredients and spices is strong enough to make you forget the absence of animal flesh. 

In terms of ingredients, it’s the traditional melting pot: kidney beans, corn, onions and peppers. But this chilli has a magic ingredient that sets it apart from the rest: textured soy protein! When prepared and added to the chilli, these TSPs look just like ground beef. 

Do the test with your family or guests: we bet many will get caught 😉

Burger and black beans: a perfect match (in French)

As well as costing less to make than the traditional version, these burgers are so good they’ll make your fight against red meat much more accessible.

The principle is simple: replace the meatball with a black bean meatball. And black beans are good for you! In addition to promoting heart and bone health, they reduce the risk of cancer and stabilize blood sugar levels... what were we waiting for to add them to our diet? 

As you can see, an excellent way to reduce your meat consumption is to opt for recipes (such as burgers, chilli or soups) where a substitute easily replaces meat and where the flavours are so exquisite that they make you forget the existence of flesh!

With these recipes, there’s no doubt about it: now you can say no to filet mignon! 😉

Psst! If you love this type of dish, check out our other vegan recipes!