Everything you eat has an impact on the environment. If it was feasible to go totally organic and local, I would do that rather than go veggie. As it is I simply can't afford it just now, in terms of pennies or hassle. I do need to make more effort in that direction, though, so thank you for the inadvertent nudge.
I'd agree very much with Toni's suggestion. Cutting down will give at least some of the benefits without causing too many of the downsides.
I've been combining eating far less meat with eating for more local and free-range/ethical farmed produce generally, it's not that hard and I reckon - what with cutting out the shite meat - I'm eating more veg and the meat I do eat tastes better. Maybe try cutting back? You'll save cash too.
Indian and South East Asian cuising are both popular here and both have a lot of meat-free options that are utterly delicious while being reasonably quick to cook.
Like the others I'd suggest cutting down how much meat you eat rather than cutting it out entirely. I don't eat meat frequently, and don't feel the lack of it.
Buying locally sourced where possible (which you may already do) cuts down the carbon footprint of your meals as well.
As for needing to justify going veggie... I don't think you should have to. Sometimes I ask, because I'm interested, whether people are ethical veggies or just don't like meat, or for other reasons, but I don't think anyone should have to justify a choice such as that one.
Another thing to do which might help you on the ethical side is to try and find local butchers / farmers markets who would greatly appreciate your support whilst providing you with quality stuff.
A friend of mine has a similar view to yourself, and has compromised with her liking of meat by only ever buying meat she can be sure is organic and ethically and sustainably farmed, preferably direct from the producer. As Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall (so) as she can be.
As it's not easy or convenient to source such meat, especially in Central London, it means that in practice she's pretty much vegetarian, but since it's not an "oh noes! Can't eat cuddly animals" thing it means she does and will eat meat when she can get the right sort.
Her fiancé follows her diet too, to save the inconvenience of cooking two meals, and just gets meat when they eat out to satisfy his wants.
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Go down the meat thrift route and buy half a lamb, whole chickens etc, and use all of the cuts?
I recommend the River Cottage Meat Book, which is a dead animal bible as far as I'm concerned.
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I'd agree very much with Toni's suggestion. Cutting down will give at least some of the benefits without causing too many of the downsides.
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Indian and South East Asian cuising are both popular here and both have a lot of meat-free options that are utterly delicious while being reasonably quick to cook.
Reply
Buying locally sourced where possible (which you may already do) cuts down the carbon footprint of your meals as well.
As for needing to justify going veggie... I don't think you should have to. Sometimes I ask, because I'm interested, whether people are ethical veggies or just don't like meat, or for other reasons, but I don't think anyone should have to justify a choice such as that one.
Reply
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As it's not easy or convenient to source such meat, especially in Central London, it means that in practice she's pretty much vegetarian, but since it's not an "oh noes! Can't eat cuddly animals" thing it means she does and will eat meat when she can get the right sort.
Her fiancé follows her diet too, to save the inconvenience of cooking two meals, and just gets meat when they eat out to satisfy his wants.
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