What is reducetarianism?

Reducetarian definition:

Someone who reduces the amount of meat and dairy products they consume without becoming fully vegetarian or vegan.

Reducetarianism

Reducetarianism is a conscious or unconscious reduction in meat and dairy consumption. The term was coined in 2015 by Brian Kateman, President and Co-Founder of the Reducetarian Society. Since its inception, reducetarianism has been endorsed by many thought leaders including Deepak Chopra, Steven Pinker and Richard Dawkins, as well as celebrity chefs.

What is a reducetarian?

A reducetarian is someone who chooses to reduce the amount of animal products, such as meat and dairy, they eat. Unlike vegans or vegetarians, a reducetarian doesn’t try to eliminate these things from their diet but rather makes an active choice to reduce the quantity.

Why choose reducetarianism?

Reducing meat consumption by as little as 10% has been shown to have significant benefits, not just for your health and the environment but also for the welfare of farmed animals.

What is a reducetarian diet?

A reducetarian diet is probably very similar to how you eat now. The difference would be that on some days, you would choose to eat a vegetarian or even vegan meal. You might only choose to eat meat once or twice a week, but when you do, you'll opt for higher welfare products.

What is the difference between a reducetarian and a flexitarian?

While a reducetarian makes a conscious effort to reduce their intake of meat and dairy. A flexitarian, on the other hand, is a vegetarian who occasionally meats meat and fish. And a pescatarian is a person who doesn't eat any meat but does eat fish.

Reducetarianism is good for your health

By eating less meat, you can improve your general health. According to research by the University of Oxford, vegetarians have a 32% lower risk of hospitalisation or death from cardiovascular disease than people who consume meat and fish.

By eating a plant-based diet, you can get a huge amount of vitamins, nutrients, and protein that your body needs to function. And by eating higher welfare meat, fish and dairy products as well in moderation, you can ensure you get everything you need to stay fit and healthy.

Reducetarianism is good for British farmers

The UK produces only 61% of the food it needs to feed the nation, by eating fewer animal products but choosing the higher welfare option you can help support British farmers to meet higher welfare standards. So, by reducing your meat consumption, you help the country become more self-sufficient and sustainable.

Reducetarianism helps the environment

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations says that the meat industry alone accounts for nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is mostly due to methane, which comes from animal excrement and has twenty times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. Meat production also requires far larger quantities of water than non-meat products.

However, animals and livestock also fill a vital role in arable farming by improving the health of the soil. This is achieved through processes of grazing, trampling and digesting which are all essential for soil food web health.

How do you become a reducetarian?

Becoming a reducetarian is easy; you simply cut down on the meat, fish, eggs and dairy in your diet. This could mean taking part in meat-free Mondays, ensuring that at least one of your meals each day is vegan or vegetarian, or perhaps even skipping meat during the working week. Anything which reduces your meat and dairy consumption is a benefit to you, the environment and the farm animals.

The Reducetarian Foundation website has many recipe ideas for people looking to reduce their meat consumption.

You can also download the RSPCA Assured eat less, eat better booklet with fourteen healthy meat and meat-free recipe ideas to get you started on the road to reducetarianism.

What is the Reducetarian Cookbook?

Published by the Reducetarian Foundation, the reducetarian cookbook contains over 125 simple and healthy recipes to help you adopt a flexible and healthy reducetarian approach to eating.

Choose higher welfare when you do eat meat

As well as choosing to eat less meat, you can also help animal welfare by choosing higher welfare products. Look for the RSPCA Assured logo when you shop to help give farm animals a better life.