News Keen to slash your grocery bill? Try No Meat May!

Sign up for No Meat May 2026 to discover delicious veg meals that are kinder to your health, the planet, the animals, and your wallet!

If you’ve ever thought about eating less meat — to improve your health, do your bit for animals and the environment, or reduce grocery costs — No Meat May is the perfect way to give it a go.

With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to strain household budgets, this month-long, food-filled challenge invites people from all around the world to ditch meat for May, rediscovering affordable plant proteins such as lentils, beans, tofu, and chickpeas along the way.

And the meal-crafting potential with just these simple building blocks is endless! Firm favourites from the No Meat May team include chickpea tuna sandwiches, sweet and sour tofu, and hearty lentil bolognese — all of which are tasty, filling, and nutritionally packed without the hefty price tag. 

“No Meat May shows people how affordable and delicious healthy food can be,” says No Meat May co-founder Ryan Alexander. “Many tell us they’re surprised to find their grocery bills drop by around 30% when they start leaning into plant proteins … but the biggest surprise is how delicious, diverse, and satisfying the food can be.”

Why join No Meat May 2026?

Even when you’re feeling super motivated by all the benefits in store, buying and eating less meat can feel a bit daunting at first. Where do I start? What should I stock up on? How do I cook a satisfying meal without meat as the centrepiece? Do vegan sausage rolls exist? (Yes!)

It’s perfectly normal to have all these questions and more when you get started. That’s exactly what No Meat May is designed for — hand-delivering all the answers you need, easily, effortlessly, and deliciously! 

It’s not about being perfect or making a lifelong commitment — just a fun, low-pressure way to try out meat-free meals for 31 days, with plenty of resources and support to make your month feel flavour-packed and enjoyable. 

When you sign up, you’ll get access to:

🤤 Hundreds of delicious recipes from food creators around the world

🧡 Weekly balanced meal plans (reviewed by dietitians)

📝 Quick & easy shopping lists

🌿 Nutrition guidance & workshops

✨ Daily cooking inspiration

So basically: everything you need to discover just how satisfying, affordable, and exciting more veg-forward cooking can be! 

Expect dishes built around wholesome ingredients like lentils, chickpeas, beans, and tofu, alongside plenty of colourful veggies, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. It’s proper, hearty food — the kind that keeps you full and actually tastes good, with flavours that go beyond your usual rotation. 

“What people quickly realise is that eating more plants isn’t about restriction,” says Alexander. “It’s about discovering a whole new world of incredible flavours and combinations of ingredients.”

With the help of the team at No Meat May and the supportive emails they send throughout the month, you’ll have a repertoire of new favourite meat-free meals on repeat in no time. 

Eating less meat could cut your grocery bills by up to 30%

With grocery prices continuing to climb, many No Meat May 2026 participants discover an unexpected bonus: Plant-based eating can be significantly cheaper!

Meat is often one of the most expensive items in the shopping trolley, so shifting towards protein-rich plant foods like lentils, beans, tofu, and chickpeas can significantly reduce weekly grocery costs. After all, these staple plant proteins are among the most affordable foods you can buy — and they go a long way.

The more plants, the better! 🌿

Australians currently eat far more meat than recommended — nearly six times the upper limit set by the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet — while falling well short on plant foods like vegetables and legumes, with most consuming less than half the recommended daily amount. 

Shifting the balance towards plants can have significant health benefits, backed by science and felt in everyday life. Diets rich in vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts, and seeds are consistently linked to better heart health and a lower risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer. 

“Research increasingly shows that prioritising plant protein is one of the most powerful ways people can improve their long-term health,” Alexander says.

Annual challenges like No Meat May and Veganuary help reset habits by putting plant foods back at the centre of the plate. The benefits extend beyond personal health, too. A recent study found that switching to plant-based eating can help reduce diet-related emissions, water pollution, and land use by up to 75%, making it one of the most impactful choices we can make for the planet.  

The average No Meat May participant also spares around one animal per day — including land and sea animals — a pretty meaningful ripple effect from a simple change to what’s on your plate! 

Join a global community of like-minded food lovers 

One of the things people love most about No Meat May is the sense of community. When you sign up, you become part of a global network of people cooking their way through the month together — sharing recipes, swapping tips, and cheering each other on.

Friendships have formed across continents, with participants joining from Australia, Canada, the United States, the Philippines, Ireland, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and New Zealand. 

“We’ve seen people meet through No Meat May and stay connected for years,” says Alexander. “There’s a real sense of community — people cheering each other on and discovering that you really can win friends with our salads.”

“Ultimately, it’s about creating healthier people on a healthier planet.”

Ready to level up your plate and your savings?

No Meat May runs throughout May each year and is free and open to anyone curious about eating more plant-based meals. 

And it’s even more fun as a team! Why not take part as a team with your friends, family, or some equally food-obsessed colleagues? It’s a great way to turn the challenge into a group adventure — fetching snacks together, swapping recipes, and sharing cooking hacks you learn along the way. 

So if you’ve been looking for a friendly, fun, and low-pressure way to explore meat-free eating — and save a bit of extra cash next month — No Meat May awaits! 

Sign up today to explore hundreds of mouthwatering recipes and see where a month of plant-based eating takes you.

Looking for affordable cooking inspiration? No Meat May has plenty of easy, flavour-packed plant-based recipes to get you started!