Could/would you eat only 14g of meat a day?

deanspn on 17/01/2019 - 13:13
Last edited 18/01/2019 - 09:37

I read some articles today on how a “planetary health diet” is needed to ensure that Earth remains sustainable and healthy for habitation. A large part of the diet is to get people to eat a lot less meat and a lot more beans and vegetables.

https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/16/new-plan…

Their guideline is each person should eat no more than 14g (fourteen grams) of meat a day.

Out of curiosity, is that something that you could or would do?

Edit: your responses have been interesting! I eat meat occasionally (once or twice a month) and stick to mostly whole food, plant based these days for health reasons. It’s been easier and tastier than expected.

Also a reminder to stay civil in the comments to each other; most of the comments are pretty funny but come on, it’s not that hard to be polite.

Poll Options

  • 288
    No, I would struggle to cut back because meat is too important to me
  • 146
    Yes, I eat more than that now but could/would cut back
  • 125
    Yes, I already eat 14g or less of meat a day
  • 55
    No, I really don’t care
Food & Grocery

Comments

      • vvvvv on 18/01/2019 - 15:06

        Where have you heard this? Everything I've read says the opposite.

        • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 17:42

          That's not true at all, global food production increases every year.

          • Ghost47 on 18/01/2019 - 18:50

            @trapper: Just because global food production increases every year doesn't mean that growth is sustainable in the long term, nor does it mean that food is being somehow magically produced with no negative side effects.

            • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 19:04

              @Ghost47: It's mainly down to hard work and technical progress, I never claimed any magic was involved.

              • Ghost47 on 18/01/2019 - 19:09

                @trapper: Hard work and technical progress may have sped up food productions, but there are constraints such as soil. Soil is not renewable at current farming rates.

                You didn't claim magic was involved per se but you're saying that food will just get cheaper and more plentiful, but the general consensus is that we will face a food crisis at some point in the future due to current farming rates and soil degradation.

                • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 19:39

                  @Ghost47: That is not the general consensus at all.

                  • Ghost47 on 18/01/2019 - 20:15

                    @trapper: It's definitely more of a consensus than "food is only going to get more plentiful and cheaper".

                    • trapper on 22/01/2019 - 14:05

                      @Ghost47: You are making things up, there is no such consensus about a 'food crisis' and you know it.

      • Ghost47 on 18/01/2019 - 16:24

        Well from what I've read, at current farming rates arable top soil will disappear in 60 years time. I seriously doubt that with current projected population growth rates as well as farming rates that food is becoming more plentiful over time.

        • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 17:50

          Why would that happen? Farmers work very hard to keep the land in top form to maximise their agricultural productivity, anyone who doesn't is out of business.

          • Ghost47 on 18/01/2019 - 18:43

            @trapper: Simple: more people = more food required to feed said people, especially if said people don't cut back on their consumption. And current projection rates only indicate a growing population. Intensive farming practices have only increased over time due to growing populations.

            Farmers here may work hard to keep their land in top form, but food isn't only produced here. Countries like Africa are experiencing soil degradation due to poor farming practices as well as climate change, and if soil in Africa is no longer arable they will need to import foods from other countries. If other countries must then produce more food in the same amount of time to feed people in other countries, that will put a strain on farms which could likely lead to more soil degradation.

            https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/aug/31/climatec…
            https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/12/third-of…
            https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02837480 (need to pay for this but reading the abstract is enough)

            • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 19:33

              @Ghost47: Africa isn't a country, and the problems there are political rather than environmental or technical.

              Africa could double or triple output with just the currently cultivated land. It also contains the majority of the world's uncultivated arable land, so lots of room for absolutely massive growth there.

              • Ghost47 on 18/01/2019 - 19:52

                @trapper: Yes my mistake, African isn't a country. Slip of the tongue.

                Land degradation in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is believed to be expanding at an alarming rate, accompanied
                by the lowest agriculture and livestock yields of any region in the world. While cereal production has increased
                marginally over the past two decades, more than 70 percent of this growth is due to area expansion rather
                than yield increases. The region also suffers from the world’s highest rate of deforestation, with some countries
                having lost more than 10 percent of their forest cover in the five years up to 2009 (IFAD, 2009) and is most
                likely continuing at the same rate to this day.
                There is a growing and long-standing recognition among both policy-makers and soil specialists that soil
                degradation is one of the root causes of declining agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa and that,
                unless the process of degradation is controlled, many parts of the continent will suffer increasingly from
                food insecurity (e.g. see Lal, 1990; UNEP, 1982). The consequences of allowing the productivity of Africa’s soil
                resources to continue on its present downward spiral will be severe, not only for the economies of individual
                countries, but for the welfare of the millions of rural households across the continent who are dependent on
                agriculture (FAO, 1999).

                http://www.fao.org/3/a-bc598e.pdf

                You keep saying things but you don't back it up with any sources. If you could provide a source for what you said that'd be appreciated.

                • trapper on 22/01/2019 - 14:13

                  @Ghost47: There is no doubt that African agricultural production is generally in a poorly managed state of degradation.

                  But as I said before this is a political issue rather than environmental or technical.

    • burningrage on 18/01/2019 - 17:22
      +1

      I dont think its going to happen. They said there will be no more oil yet there is a news from middle east saying there will be enough oil for the next 70 years at current rate.

      It is scaremongering poking on fear in order to validate people thirst of power without sounding like an extremist.

      • Ghost47 on 18/01/2019 - 17:30
        +1

        Well they are both essentially finite resources at the rate at which we use them. 70 years still isn't forever, nor is it 100 years. I'd like for it not to happen that's for sure.

    • Ms Bargainer on 18/01/2019 - 21:34
      +1

      There are hot dogs, sausages, mince and pies, too, and they all taste great.

      • Ghost47 on 19/01/2019 - 22:17
        +1

        Really? I didn't realise their range was so extensive. Nice to know though, can you get it in stores?

        • Ms Bargainer on 19/01/2019 - 22:22
          +1

          Yes, they are available at Coles and Woolworths. I forgot to mention lasagne.

  • Mosher on 17/01/2019 - 21:12
    +2

    Eat a gym mat if you want to cut back on meat as lunch lady Doris says "there's very little meat in these gym mats"

  • Mosher on 17/01/2019 - 21:13

    Forgot to ask if they include chicken or is it red meat only??

  • ajdj10 on 17/01/2019 - 21:42

    Chicken isn't vegan?

    • [Deactivated] on 17/01/2019 - 21:45

      There was famous Mike the chicken with no head (left). Only quasi sentient.

    • buckster on 18/01/2019 - 16:11

      Time for the vegan police!

  • rompastompa on 17/01/2019 - 22:00
    +5

    Watch Michael Mosley's Should I eat meat.

    Yes, you should reduce meat intake, but you shouldn't stop eating meat. The issues he brings up is that developing countries such as China, are eating meat when they didn't previously. Additionally with world wide population growth, the demand for meat has greatly increased. Deforestation is required to make room for all this meat.

    Interestingly, there are quite a few countries that have reduced their meat intake according to: Meat consumption by country.

    TLDR; Everyone should reduce their meat intake.

    • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 17:54
      +2

      It is actually palm oil and soy production that is the leading cause of deforestation.

  • preferredusername on 17/01/2019 - 22:13
    +2

    I’m precious and unintentionally vegetarian, will trade my daily meat allocation (phrasing) for eneloops. Serious bidders only please.

    • rompastompa on 17/01/2019 - 23:36

      Swap a battery for a battery hen?

  • RADICALIST on 18/01/2019 - 01:47

    Meat is life

    • Ms Bargainer on 18/01/2019 - 21:35

      Not really. Meat is murder.

  • lawrencium on 18/01/2019 - 05:16

    How about 0g of meat a day?

  • porsche26c on 18/01/2019 - 06:24

    I eat between 400-600g of meat a day most days. Sometimes only 200. No way I could reduce, maybe to only one portion a day i.e 200g.

    • freemoneyhunter on 19/01/2019 - 16:48

      You are going to die soon. 1/2 kilo of meat contains 500mg of cholesterol, that cholesterol will build up in your body and destroy you.
      It also causes cancer.

      • ozhunter on 19/01/2019 - 18:11

        I'll take my chances, lol.

  • jno on 18/01/2019 - 07:06
    +2

    i mean you can try all you want but you will just be the minority. Most people dont give a shit unfortunately

  • brendanm on 18/01/2019 - 07:35
    +4

    Rather than have endless population growth and having to restrict meat, it would be better if we had a sustainable population. Would help with numerous other things as well

    • jno on 18/01/2019 - 12:22
      +2

      too bad thanos aint real?

  • greater mimic on 18/01/2019 - 09:35
    +2

    Nooo why did you summon thevofa

    Edit: oh god there's more…

    Edit: some of the comments from meat eaters are also pretty terrible. I'm just going to stay out of this post.

  • aerom on 18/01/2019 - 09:56

    Reduce meat consumption = flaming vegans/vegeterians ;-)

    • HighAndDry on 18/01/2019 - 12:22

      Not really. Only the crazy ones are being flamed. Altomic is vegetarian, openly so, is reasonable, and his comments are being received fine.

  • Duram on 18/01/2019 - 10:26
    +2

    No way. I don't think life would be nearly as enjoyable without meat.

  • SmartestAlec on 18/01/2019 - 10:56
    +6

    I see a bunch of vegan bashing going on which is disappointing but nothing new. Try and keep an open mind. I was anti-vegan, I am now one. I regret a lot of the stuff I said in threads like this one.

    • Kamsi on 18/01/2019 - 11:02
      +4

      I just hope you stop preaching :)

    • manlol on 18/01/2019 - 11:48
      +1

      Same here. Gets disheartening poring over a thread like this with the same old tired arguments, but veganism is definitely growing rapidly as people wake up to its legitimacy.

    • HighAndDry on 18/01/2019 - 12:23
      +3

      Not an anti-vegan, nor are there a lot here. Just people who're anti-"I'm better than you and get to tell you how to live".

      • manlol on 18/01/2019 - 12:31

        People who think the needless systematic torture of 60 billion land animals per year, who cannot communicate themselves, for the reason of taste preference of a dominant species is objectionable and should be talked about.

        • [Deactivated] on 18/01/2019 - 15:10

          Which animals cannot communicate?

          • manlol on 18/01/2019 - 15:31

            @[Deactivated]: Good call - you are right, most animals can technically communicate.

            What I mean is, they lack the ability to post in this thread about how they feel, or to be interviewed by a journalist.

            They do scream, though. The suffering of a factory farmed animal's entire life is undeniable.

        • freemoneyhunter on 19/01/2019 - 16:56

          Thank you manlol, consuming meat is an abhorrent practice. Anyone who thinks they will get away with consuming flesh from mistreated, tortured and suffering animals, it would be fair justice for those people to reincarnate into all the animals they have eaten and suffer multiple lives living in factory farms and being bludgeoned to death in the most horrible manner.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/01/2019 - 17:14

      How do vegans keep an open mind and what does that constitute? Omnivores have open minds, vegans do not.

      • manlol on 18/01/2019 - 18:01
        +1

        Nearly all vegans were raised omnivorous. It takes an open mind to honestly consider that the practices you have been brought up to believe are moral and fine may not be. In some ways I would say it's comparable to turning away from a religion.

    • burningrage on 18/01/2019 - 17:26
      +1

      Thats funny. My mentee was a vegan and she was so skinny that she had to eat meat and she confided to me that she felt stronger and better. She now realized she was fed propaganda.

      • manlol on 18/01/2019 - 17:54
        +2

        Just so you know, there are millions of very healthy vegans and countless world class vegan athletes. The problem your mentee faced was not inherent to veganism but more likely a lack of nutritional education.

  • Kamsi on 18/01/2019 - 11:01

    Fck No!

  • manlol on 18/01/2019 - 11:45
    +4

    Here's a relevant documentary about the animal agriculture industry within Australia for anyone interested:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRAfJyEsko

    • dingdong3000 on 18/01/2019 - 13:31
      +1

      That was hard to watch..

      • manlol on 18/01/2019 - 14:42

        Yeah no kidding. Honestly, thanks for caring enough to watch. Most would rather turn a blind eye.

    • unelectric on 18/01/2019 - 14:09
      +2

      This should be mandatory viewing for anyone that eats meat. People should be aware of what they paid for.

    • icanconfirm on 18/01/2019 - 17:25
      +1

      Thank you for posting this. All human beings, whether choosing to eat meat or not, should be privy on what happens in the world. It is a miserable existence to be on this Earth as self-serving, and de-personalising and distancing oneself from atrocities that are man-made, and that are fixable through sheer willingness.

  • snivy on 18/01/2019 - 13:02

    I don’t like meat, so I’ve been subconsciously avoiding it. I suffered low iron and vit d in the past but I worked out a more balanced diet for me now.

    The thing is, I actually made sure my dog got his proper meat intake… which made me wonder if vegans/vegetarians make their pets eat plant-based diet too? Honestly, out of pure curiosity. I don’t know many vegetarians/vegans in my life.

    • unelectric on 18/01/2019 - 14:07
      +2

      A reasonable vegan will never force their diet on their pet. Cats are obligate carnivores. When we adopt we agree to provide and care for an animal and that's no different if you're a vegan or not.

      However, it is a grey area whether a vegan should adopt a cat after becoming vegan.

    • buckster on 18/01/2019 - 16:16

      I read about some people who make their animals eat a vegan/vegetarian diet, and I don't believe that would be in the best interests of the animal.

    • freemoneyhunter on 19/01/2019 - 16:59
      -1

      Dogs are fine on a vegetarian diet, cats unfortunately need to eat meat but still you can reduce their consumption of meat.

  • jencek on 18/01/2019 - 13:06
    +2

    Whilst I agree with cutting down on meat I get the shits with this sort of article. We need serious sanity in population control to sustain the planet, not meat vs plant diet BS. Perhaps mass production and distribution of contraceptives to the out of control 3rd world……

    • manlol on 18/01/2019 - 14:55
      +2

      While it is appealing to believe that problem should be taken care of by someone else, the reality is that we are all responsible for this. The carbon footprint of the average Australian is literally several times that of an average third-worlder, and the biggest way to reduce your footprint is to stop eating animal products, which are an inherently grossly inefficient way of creating food. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6392/987

      (This is not so much aimed at you, as you're already in agreement with the eat less meat thing)

    • brendanm on 18/01/2019 - 22:19
      +1

      This. An exponentially growing population is just stupid. There is only so much land, and so many resources to go around.

      Yea the comment above is correct, but we can have meat and be sustainable if we don't allow uncontrolled population growth, especially in countries that cannot support themselves. Please note that I don't care if people are vegan/vegetarian, good on them, and I can happily eat vegetarian or vegan meals, I just think population is a much bigger problem overall.

  • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 14:21
    +4

    How about we just let everyone eat whatever they want, the market will sort out the price vs supply.

    Even if somehow our meat production couldn't keep up with demand the price would just increase a bit… ?

    • manlol on 18/01/2019 - 14:57
      +1

      Vegans generally believe that animals have moral value and that it's wrong to needlessly inflict suffering upon them. As such, a choice to eat meat is not a purely personal choice - it affects others.

      • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 15:32
        +1

        Yeah they are weird, but each to their own.

        I don't want to ban their lentils.

        • icanconfirm on 18/01/2019 - 17:37
          +2

          To care for animals is weird?

          Why don't you watch this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRAfJyEsko

          You don't have to, and my purpose isn't to convert you into any diet. My aim for you is to develop a different perspective on people that actually care. Perhaps avoid criticising, and ridiculing people who are aiming for the better care for animals. Maybe even consider respecting the nobility in people actually caring.

          • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 18:06

            @icanconfirm: No I mean't their logic is weird, it just doesn't follow - weird logic for weird people :)

            Eating meat doesn't mean you don't care about animals or treating them humanely.

            • icanconfirm on 18/01/2019 - 19:20

              @trapper: Perhaps consider your words; we are all humans, and we are all individuals. It's not a "we" against "them." In fact, it's not even a "them"- everyone as individuals shouldn't be lumped into a category, especially one that is derogatory

              In the most simplistic sense, the logic is sequential. There should be care for all things living. Humans should care for other humans. Humans should also care for all animals. Care means to facilitate an optimal life, the ability to procreate and care for their offspring, and to avoid pain, suffering, emotional torment etc.

              Whether or not humans are superior to animals is a moot point. When there is an ability to provide all that is mentioned above to humans or animals, then that should be the goal. That's the principle behind all calls to action. That is, why do we indulge in our own needs, which are most often indulgences rather than need, knowing that it has a carry-on effect (harm) to others or animals? From a purely nutrition standpoint, if there are alternatives we can consume, why are we not consuming these instead and reducing the harm? Taste on one side, killing an animal on another; is that a fair trade?

              People just need to be informed, think about their own personal values, and weigh up the pros and cons of their choices.

              But remember, those people who you call "weird" have self-reflected, and have made a choice aligning with their morals and value system. It may be different to yours, but that shouldn't be a reason to antagonise. Instead, consider respecting them enough for at the very least being well intentioned people.

              • SmartestAlec on 21/01/2019 - 16:00
                -1

                @icanconfirm: this is a really great post ^

              • trapper on 22/01/2019 - 14:26

                @icanconfirm: Once again you are positioning us non-vegans as uncaring about animal welfare. This simply isn't true.

                It may be a product of your abnormal thinking, but we are not misinformed, immoral or uncaring.

    • macrocephalic on 18/01/2019 - 17:07
      +1

      The market can't sort out pricing for carbon emissions as there's currently no (little, inadequate) pricing on environmental damage.

      If we introduced a carbon cap and trade system then the market may adjust for it.

      • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 18:13
        +1

        I never liked the market approach to emissions, if the shit is bad then it need to be phased out, not bought and sold so we can keep on polluting but just paying more.

        I could get behind a global ban on any new coal power plants for example.

        • brendanm on 18/01/2019 - 22:21
          +1

          Correct, why allow but make it more expensive. Australia needs to get on board with nuclear power, our usage of coal is ridiculous.

        • macrocephalic on 18/01/2019 - 22:49

          You literally just said that the market will take care of it, then said you don't like the market approach and that it needs to be handled through regulation.

          • trapper on 22/01/2019 - 14:29

            @macrocephalic: I literally did not say that.

            You can't just randomly start talking about a completely seperate topic then attribute a comment from one to the other. Have some damn integrity.

            • macrocephalic on 24/01/2019 - 14:44

              @trapper:

              the market will sort out the price vs supply

              I never liked the market approach to emissions

              • trapper on 24/01/2019 - 17:37

                @macrocephalic:

                You can't just randomly start talking about a completely seperate topic then attribute a comment from one to the other. Have some damn integrity.

  • knk on 18/01/2019 - 14:51
    +2

    Haven't eaten meat in maybe 14 years, vegetarian. It's not difficult to get everything you need to be healthy (at least as a male).

    However I can totally understand how it'd be difficult to give up all at once. I'm assuming it's like you telling me I can't eat yogurt lol.

  • DaddysBelt on 18/01/2019 - 15:02

    I have been eating a lot of vegetarian curries and they are every bit as delicious as the meat alternative.

    I figure the less meat I eat the better, however I am not really limiting it on purpose. Just trying new recipes and different things.

    A friend is trying to be vegetarian through the week and meat eating on weekends which seems to be working well for him. It is something I have considered trying, though I am likely be less strict during the week.

    If anyone hasn't watched 'Food, Inc' I'd highly recommend it. Eat first as you will likely lose your appetite!

  • pf2 on 18/01/2019 - 15:02
    +2

    I am consciously trying to have at least 1 vegetarian day a week. It's a small change but if everyone does this it will make a big difference.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/01/2019 - 16:43
      +3

      What difference?

      • Kamsi on 19/01/2019 - 11:15

        Some people are been brainwashed. Now a days every body pushing agenda into your brain.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/01/2019 - 11:26

          Oh, we have always been pushing agendas but at least we were generally pushing our own agendas.

    • HighAndDry on 18/01/2019 - 17:12

      I initially read your comment as:

      I am consciously trying to have at least 1 vegetarian a week.

      And was going to congratulate you for doing your part to combat over-population.

      • [Deactivated] on 19/01/2019 - 10:13
        +1

        He may not be eating in that sense.

  • BhanuL on 18/01/2019 - 15:47

    Vast volume of vegans are pretty cool. I would be such a holier than thou prick if I was a vegan, I'd have even less than the friends I have now.

    • buckster on 18/01/2019 - 16:17

      Don't worry! Can't have less than ZERO.

      (Sorry lol)

  • burningrage on 18/01/2019 - 17:19
    +2

    The burgers are better at hungry jacks.

    And btw TGIF Chadstone has just opened. Its their signature store.

    • Ghost47 on 18/01/2019 - 17:39

      Really? Whereabouts is it?

    • ihbh on 19/01/2019 - 16:22

      signature store

      flagship store?

  • trapper on 18/01/2019 - 18:53
    +1

    Will vegans and vegetarians be forced to eat 14g a day too? I can't see this one going down well.

  • AliensStoleMyMoney on 18/01/2019 - 19:12

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XebF2cgmFmU

    soz as a wog i aint going with a yiros

  • keekster on 18/01/2019 - 19:13

    How disappointing to read most comments on here.

    Vegans don’t have an agenda, they just want you to consider the impact of your choice to eat meat on your health, the planet and the animals. They have absolutely nothing to gain from your choice not to eat meat.

    On the other hand, the meat, dairy and egg industries have everything to gain from your continued consumption of their products.

    I ate meat most meals until I educated myself about a year ago.

    Here are some documentaries that you can watch on Netflix and YouTube so that you can make an informed decision whether to continue to eat meat or not:

    1. What the Health (Netflix)
    2. Fork over Knives (Netflix)
    3. Earthlings (YouTube)
    4. Cowspiracy (Netflix)
    5. Dominion (YouTube)
    • ozhunter on 18/01/2019 - 19:48
      +3

      Vegans don’t have an agenda

      I think they want me to stop eating meat.

      they just want you to consider the impact of your choice to eat meat on your health

      There's studies saying meat is good for you, and studies saying it isn't. As far as I'm concerned; meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables are all natural foods and are the healthiest for you.

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