Are you new to the idea of humane eating? The Humane Eating Project will help you find restaurants with humane choices. But before the app is released, and aside from restaurants, there are other ways you can make your diet more humane.
Many people want to eat humanely, but don’t know how. Vegan is the only 100% humane option, but transitioning to vegan is an intimidating and dramatic change. These tips will help you take your first baby steps toward reducing animal cruelty. By taking small steps to eating more humanely, you will become more aware of what you are eating. We hope this might eventually lead you to adopt a plant-based lifestyle. Even if you only make these simple changes, you can still have an impact by reducing the demand for animal products.
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1. Use the Vegan Option When There is One
Many products come in several varieties, and there is often a vegan version. For example, buy vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. This is a pretty simple switch and you will not notice the difference in your recipe.
When it comes to dairy products, the non-dairy market is exploding. I see new products every time I go grocery shopping. There are tons of vegan products you can use instead of dairy. An easy one to try is Earth Balance spread instead of butter. In fact, many margarines are “accidentally vegan.” I’ve found Earth Balance tastes and bakes like real butter, whereas margarines can vary.
You can also switch to soy or almond milk instead of using cow’s milk. My favorite is Almond Breeze sweetened vanilla, I love it on cereal or in coffee. Unsweetened rice and soy milk work better for savory recipes. There are also a bunch of other non-dairy milks out there, like coconut or hemp milk.
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2. Meatless Mondays
Try cutting out meat for one day a week. If you think about it, you probably like a lot of meatless meals already. Any pasta lovers out there? Just combine your favorite shape, sauce, and vegetables and you’re done! (More recipes if you keep reading to #5).
7 people that do Meatless Mondays have the same impact as one vegetarian. By cutting out meat once a week, you can make a difference without giving up your favorite foods.
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3. Switch to Humanely Raised
The majority of farm animals are raised on massive, industrial factory farms where they are treated like inanimate objects and subject to cruel practices. But there are some farms that treat their animals humanely. On these farms, animal welfare is the highest priority, making sure they “only have one bad day.”
There are three third party certifications for humane farms: Global Animal Partnership (GAP), Certified Humane, and Animal Welfare Approved (AWA). GAP certified products are available at Whole Foods. You can search the Certified Humane and AWA websites for where to find their products near you.
To find humanely-raised options when you eat at restaurants, use the Humane Eating Project app. This will be available in a few months.
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4. Eat Less Meat
When you eat meat, eat less of it. Many recipes call for a pound of chicken or ground beef. Try using a half a pound. In most recipes, you won’t notice a difference. And besides benefiting animals, you’ll also save money.
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5. Look for Veganized Versions of Your Favorite Recipes
Thanks to the internet, it’s incredibly easy to find and share new recipes. Someone has probably made a vegan version of your favorite food. Just google: “vegan [your favorite dish].” Here are some examples for Mexican food, lasagna, burgers, Mediterranean food, fried rice, and potstickers.
This is especially easy for baking. There are many alternatives to eggs for baking. Plus you won’t have to worry about whether or not the eggs have gone bad! You can make any baking recipe vegan by substituting with Earth Balance and egg replacer. Some recipes are already vegan so you don’t need to change anything. Here are some great vegan recipes for brownies, fudge,muffins, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, croissants, and even peanut butter cups!
We hope you find these tips helpful as you begin eating more humanely, and fighting animal cruelty. Together, we can make a difference for billions of farm animals.
-Heather, Humane Eating Project Team at America for Animals
