How to Eat Meat Responsibly and Humanely

The word “meat” conjures up thoughts of juicy burgers, tender chicken fingers, and tenderloin steaks. But what many people don’t realize is that there are a lot of other options when it comes to eating meat. If you’re eating meat for the right reasons and not just for taste, it can be done responsibly and humanely.

Granted, reducing your meat consumption is a great way to reduce your environmental impact and improve your personal wellbeing. Eating less meat is also a way to help protect animals and reduce the amount of land they are being raised on.

There are plenty of other options when it comes to eating meat, like vegetarian or vegan alternatives. But reducing your meat consumption doesn’t mean eliminating it from your diet. You just need to find alternative ways to eat the same amount. It's up to you how far you want to take it. Reduce your meat intake, or go meatless entirely. As you decide, there are plenty of options to keep your diet healthy and sustainable. Here are 3 tips on how to eat meat responsibly and humanely.

Photo by Stijn te Strake on Unsplash

Choose Humanely Raised Meat

Eating meat from livestock that have been raised humanely is one of the best ways to reduce your impact on the environment and improve your health. One of the easiest ways to tell if a food product is humanely raised is to look for the Certified Humane label. Also, look for recipes that focus less on the meat itself and supplement it with carbs or other proteins. Stews or meals like this recipe for ground beef goulash are good places to start.

Eat Seafood

Seafood is a nutrient-dense protein that is low in calories and fat, and packed with vitamins and minerals. It’s low in cholesterol and high in protein, which makes it a healthy part of the diet. Many types of seafood are low in fat and saturated fat, high in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, and very low in calories. Shrimp, oysters, mussels, and other mollusks are low in calories and fat, high in minerals, and provide a good source of protein. Just make sure to keep in mind seafood’s impact as well.

Try this recipe for Indonesian Fried No-Rice with shrimp:

Indonesian No-Rice with Shrimp

Try a Meatless Meal once a week

Eating a vegetarian or vegan meal once a week won’t radically change your health or environmental impact, but it can be a good way to try new foods and experience something new in your diet. It can also be fun to try something different once a week. Many people choose to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet for health reasons. Improving your diet by adding more vegetables, whole grains, and fruits is an easy way to get more healthy variety in your diet.

This Everything Bagel Salad is a great meat-free meal idea. And you can add chickpeas or an alternative protein source too!

Everything Bagel Salad

Eating less meat is one of the best things you can do for the environment and your health. Many people think that eating less meat is a way to sacrifice taste, but there are plenty of delicious vegetarian and vegan options. What did you think of these 3 tips on how to eat meat responsibly and humanely? Which tip will you try? Let me know in the comments!

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