[Sticw]

The actual way is to only consume the declining. There is no way mortal can survive without taking another life. That's how this reality is. So what does consuming the declining means?

Everything goes through birth, growth, decline and death. So for vegetables you can consume them after they have flowered and passed their prime. You can consume their fruits for that is a by product so that you can then help them spread their seed.

For animals, you can consume when they have matured and likely done their duty to father the next generations. Else you can consume their dead bodies after their have given up on their last breath (even Buddhist can consume meat, just not kill another for the meat).

Food for thoughts...