One way to support a sustainable lifestyle is to become a vegetarian. However, not everyone can live it, especially for those who still need animal protein intake, such as meat.
If you are one of these people, there is no need to be discouraged, let alone give up on living a sustainability lifestyle. The following are tips for consuming beef to remain environmentally friendly.
Reducing the Amount of Meat Consumed
The simplest tip to do as a start is to reduce the amount of meat you eat. No need to reduce in large quantities at once, but do it gradually first.
For example, swap portions of meat for portions of vegetables if you eat more meat than greens. You can also create a meat-eating schedule or a special day without meat. This special meat-free day might start from one day and progress to 3 days, a week, and so on.
Choose Meat from Cows Raised in Pastures
If you buy meat at a traditional market, you can make sure in advance whether it comes from cows raised in pastures. Meanwhile, if you buy at a supermarket or specialty meat store, check the label. Generally, cattle with sustainable livestock techniques will be given a special label.
Why are cows from pasture farms better than those without? This is because the farming technique allows the cows to naturally forage for their own food. That way, the overall impact on the natural ecosystem is not too high. The cows were also not given antibiotics, and tended to be less stressed.
Choose from Cows that are Given Less Antibiotics
Overuse of antibiotics in livestock can lead to stronger antibiotic resistance. So, you should choose a product that requires minimal use of antibiotics in its production.
A good way to avoid animals being given antibiotics is to stop buying products produced through intensive farming. Animals living with higher standards of welfare are known to be healthier and require less medication. For example, cows raised in pastures.
Reduce Food Waste from Meat Consumption
If you still want to eat meat while protecting the environment, treat meat as a valuable food source. That is, use all the elements in the cow that can be consumed. You should also buy the type or cut of meat according to the menu or needs.
According to Healthline, food waste is a serious global problem, with 290,000 tonnes of meat and fish products dumped in the UK each year, according to WRAP.