Substitute beef with poultry or seafood sometimes

I’ll be honest — I love a good burger as much as anyone. But beef also happens to be one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions from food, nearly 10x more than other meats like chicken or fish. Since the difference is so substantial, swapping beef for chicken or seafood once or twice a week gets you most of the benefit without having to give up the foods you enjoy.

Here’s why: cows are ruminant animals, which means they digest grass and grains through a process called enteric fermentation. During digestion, they produce methane (CH₄), a greenhouse gas that traps heat about 28 times more effectively than carbon dioxide. Most of this methane is released through burps, not the often-mentioned bovine flatulence. Methane doesn’t last as long in the atmosphere as CO₂, but while it’s there, it’s extremely potent (so even small reductions matter).

Beef also takes a lot more land, water, and feed to produce than poultry or seafood. That means every steak or burger uses up more resources compared to chicken, turkey, or fish. Studies show that beef creates roughly ten times more emissions than poultry and several times more than seafood. When you think about how often it shows up on menus or dinner tables, those small swaps really start to add up.

Personally, I’ve started mixing it up more. Sometimes I’ll do shredded chicken tacos instead of ground beef, or make turkey meatballs for pasta night. I’ve been hooked on salmon burgers lately and they are quick to cook and still feel like comfort food. And when I’m craving something hearty, a lentil chili or veggie stir-fry does the trick.

If I’m eating out, I’ll just look for a poultry or seafood dish instead of my usual beef order. It doesn’t feel like I’m giving anything up, just trying something different. Over time, I’ve realized it’s not about perfection, but about small changes that actually stick. And this one’s simple: you don’t have to stop eating meat to make a meaningful impact. Just eat a little less beef, and you’re already helping move things in the right direction.

See this article for great ideas:

Cooking Substitutions: How to Swap Meat, Poultry, & Seafood | Cook Smarts