Did you know that the meat industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world? The food we eat creates a significant portion of the total emissions caused by an individual, and in Sweden and Norway, giving up meat would actually reduce the carbon footprint more than giving up cars. According to research, cutting meat and dairy products from our diets is the best way to protect the planet. So, whether we like it or not, there are major reasons to eat less meat.

You don’t have to change your eating habits over night, but the journey towards a vegetarian lifestyle starts today. There’s no time like the present, right? Here’s a list of 5 tasty plant-based alternatives to meat:

Chickpeas
A true family favorite! Chickpeas make a delicious, crunchy and crispy snack when simply roasted. You can also grind them into a flour for baking, or make your own homemade hummus. Yum! They’re also the perfect base for meatballs (well, plant-based vegan look-a-likes).

Beans
The first thing a lot of people ask when we say plant-based diet is “what about protein?”. But remember, most people get way more protein than we need, and there are plenty of good plant-based sources. Soybeans, for example, contain more protein than any other bean, and it’s one of the most protein-dense foods you can find. They are the primary ingredient of tofu – or you can eat them as they are. Also, you have to try this chocolate cake with black beans, dates, coconut oil, peanut butter and cacao powder. It’s too good to be true.

Tofu
Soy-based vegetarian tofu needs a little more love than most foods, but luckily, that’s easily fixed. In our cookbook (so far only available in Swedish and Polish) we use tofu for scrambled eggs: crumble marinated tofu and pan-fry in coconut oil – done! You will also find a recipe for lasagna in which we crumble tofu and mix it with sundried tomatoes, tamari, walnuts and fresh basil.

Lentils
When the air starts to turn chilly, there’s nothing quite like a warm and delicious lentil stew simmering on the stove. You can also make tasty vegetarian bolognese with beluga lentils instead of meat. Too big a step for you? Start by adding some extra lentils (or other vegetables) to your regular bolognese. Tiny, healthy changes that you (and your kids) won’t even notice.

Almond milk, oat milk and coconut cream
Non-dairy substitutes for milk and cream are not hard to find. But remember to take a look at the ingredient list in order to avoid products with added sugar.

Runner-up: Bugs
Yes, we know. Bugs are definitely animals. But if this is a list of environmentally friendly foods, why not include insects? You might turn your nose up at the idea but with the right seasoning, it may actually be tasty. Well, let’s see what the future holds.

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