1. Educate yourself. Yes, meat and dairy have the highest carbon footprint of all the food groups, but not all animal products are created equal! For example, eating beef has a much larger impact on the environment than eating chicken. This chart by the Environmental Working Group shows the comparative climate impact of various foods.
2. Look online for meatless recipes that appeal to you. Save the recipes that are popular with family members to create a rotating menu of vegetarian dishes. Try making "Meatless Monday" a family tradition to start. You could also sample some “fake meats” from the grocery store and use the ones you like to replace meat in your favorite non-meatless recipes. 
3. Consuming less red meat and dairy has the biggest impact. Start by cutting out beef, lamb, and/or cheese if you can’t quit animal products “cold turkey.” Chicken, turkey, eggs, and pork are more sustainable choices because they have lower carbon footprints to produce than red meat and dairy.
4. Go at your own pace but don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. A vegan diet will of course reduce the climate impact of your diet by the widest margin, but if you can’t sustain it, it's better to start with smaller changes you can commit to. Like any good “diet,” consider the commitment to eating fewer animal products a lifestyle change that you can maintain in the long run.
5. Spread the word. Very few people understand the climate impact of their food choices. Share your commitment with others by making vegetarian and vegan meals for your family and friends or ask someone to join you as you eat less meat and dairy.

Would cutting out just beef have a significant climate impact? A major study published in 2018 in the journal of Science (Poore and Nemecek, Science) calculated the average greenhouse gas emissions associated with different foods. The Science calculations show six times the climate impact of beef production as compared to chicken. This impact on climate grows when beef is raised in countries like Argentina and Brazil where meat production practices often result in deforestation. So yes, reducing or eliminating the consumption of beef from our diets would have a significantly large impact on our carbon footprints.

What’s the difference between vegetarian and vegan? Vegetarian is a broader term for excluding animal products from your diet. A vegetarian diet will exclude meat but often  includes eggs and dairy. A vegan diet strictly avoids any food that contains animal products, including dairy and eggs. 

Do I have to go vegan to make an impact? Eating a vegan diet will have the most impact, but you can still make a difference even if you don’t commit to a strict diet. Remember, you don’t have to be vegan or vegetarian to eat vegan and vegetarian food. You could try eating vegetarian every other day or just consciously choosing more vegan options at stores and restaurants. You might find you naturally eat less animal products as you begin to find more vegetarian and vegan recipes you love!