Ever thought about becoming a Tuesday-tarian? Going meat-free one day a week is, according to the chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a personal sacrifice that will help fix climate change. The more meat-free days, the better.
Given that the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that meat production makes almost a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions and those stinky pre-hamburger cows shoot out tons of methane — 23 times more tied to global warming than carbon dioxide — plus habitat destruction and transportation, just skipping the burger is the easiest option. But that trend seems far from ready to tip. The agency thinks that meat consumption is going to double by the middle of the century.
A group called World Farming is calling governments to lead campaigns to reduce meat consumption by 60 per cent by 2020. The meat industry isn't going to take the patty lying down. A spokesman for a pig industry group says, "Climate change is a very young science and our view is there are a lot of simplistic solutions being proposed."
How much meat does the average person eat? To find out, read more.
At 500 pounds of meat per average cow, as measured in the UK, the average person eats 8 whole cows in their lifetime. Add to that 36 sheep, 36 pigs, and 550 chickens. In the UK, meat consumption has risen 50 percent in the last 40 years. The average burger in a fast food restaurant will cost you 2.2 pounds of carbon dioxide — maybe something to weigh against the $ .99 value meal? Would you ditch meat for the environment?
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Julia Cocco'
Aminaka Wilmont
8 whole cows in a lifetime - that's gross. I'm probably ahead of the curve on chickens. yech.
1I've already cut back to meat 3 times a week but I don't think I could go completely vegetarian - every once in a while my body simply craves a little steak.
There's a long list of things that would never convince me to stop eating meat. Global warming is pretty much on the bottom of that long list.
2It's really difficult to be a healthy vegetarian. Your body needs protein. I know a lot of "vegetarians" and "vegans" that just eat french fries and eat chips. Ummmm...that's not how it works. I grew up vegan and you have to take supplements and eat plenty of protein. I'm not vegan anymore.
3"I know a lot of "vegetarians" and "vegans" that just eat french fries and eat chips. "
Haha, this describes my best friend pretty well.
I think I'd have to have an intelligent discussion with a cow before I'd give up eating them
4harmony, when did you stop being vegan? I had a really difficult time maintaining being a pescetarian on the ship.
5"There's a long list of things that would never convince me to stop eating meat. Global warming is pretty much on the bottom of that long list."
Yeah, me too.
I do have a couple of days where I'll eat fish instead of meat, but that's about the extent of it.
6Thank you for cutting back stephley
7I don't eat meat much, but I just don't crave it that often. I eat read meat maybe twice a year. I do eat chicken somewhat regularly, but not necessarily every day. I think it will be different if I ever have children and am cooking meals for an entire family rather than just myself.
On a side note, there was a piece on 20/20 the other day about people who were so obsessed with healthy eating that it was making them sick. It was quite interesting.
8"On a side note, there was a piece on 20/20 the other day about people who were so obsessed with healthy eating that it was making them sick. It was quite interesting."
That sounds interesting--I'll have to find it online.
I think moderation in everything is key. Except with sushi. Then it's "more is more."
9I'm thinking about becoming a meatatarian. I know it's a personal choice, and it's going to be hard to stick with it. I'm willing to make the sacrifice. Anyone else with me?
10When I was about 12. We went to my Grandma's for Thanksgiving and I had my first taste of turkey soon after I tasted real chocolate and it was ALL OVER. I don't eat tons of red meat, but probably once every two weeks I need a steak. I eat a lot of chicken. I do have to say though that growing up that way means I love fruit and vegetables. AND tofu. LOVE tofu.
11I have stopped eating cows and switched to kittens. Hopefully this will help.
If you are a vegetarian (not vegan) the only thing you need to supplement is B12. Like, one pill every day or so. You will get plenty of protein through beans, nuts and tofu (and dairy). It is not that hard, people just make excuses. If you don't want to do it, fine, but don't give me this health crap. I am so sick of people eating their freaking cheeseburgers in front of me and telling me how unhealthy vegetarianism is. A vegetarian diet is typically better for your cholesterol and heart than a diet that includes a lot of meat. Vegetarians typically weigh less than meat-eaters. If you eat potato chips as a vegetarian, odds are you'd eat them as a meat-eater also.
Fine, I get that no one gives a sh*t about the environment, there are plenty of other compelling reasons to reduce meat consumption including diet and cruelty issues. Mark Bittman (who is not a vegetarian) wrote this fantastic article suggesting that people curb their meat-eating, it's really worth checking out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html
12I already pretty much am one, Dave. Believe me, it's easier than it seems!
13Snowbunny, I think the key words in your statement are "a lot of meat." And I think a lot of the backlash against vegetarianism comes from the fact that some of the more vocal vegetarians act as if the only way to be healthy is to be a vegetarian and as if all meat eaters are evil, immoral people.
14You can take my meat away from me, but youre going to have to pry it from my cold dead hands.
I know plenty of chunky vegetarians.
15
16My wife alternates between wanting to restrict my meat intake, to serving steak. I get so confused.
I have definitely eaten more than 36 pigs in my lifetime.
17Well put, lil.
18"Vegetarians typically weigh less than meat-eaters" Yes, because we all know that being skinny automatically means you're healthier.
I don't think that vegetarians can't be healthy, but it certainly takes more effort. It takes an effort to be a healthy meat eater, too, but not quite as much of an effort. It's only logical that it's healthier to eat meat, because human bodies evolved (and are thus designed) to eat some sort of meat (be it fish, beef, chicken, pork, etc.) I have no problem with those who make the choice to be vegetarians (two of my best friends have done so) but there's really no reason to look down your nose at those who make different choices.
19I agree that being a vegetarian can be unhealthy but I do think (especially after watching "Fast Food Nation"!) that we can all cut back.
20There is also a big difference in buying grass fed beef at stores like Whole Foods and just getting a big mac or any other fast food beef burger.
I also take issue with the way that the more vocal vegetarians lil discussed tend to characterize meat-eaters as running about stuffing McDonalds cheeseburgers in their mouths. Not all meat-eaters pig out on junk food all the time.
21But those fast food burgers taste Sooooooo good.
I'm hungry. Anyone want to go to lunch?
22Not ALL the time Jude. But let me tell you I enjoy the days that I splurge and get a Chicago style hotdog. YUM.
23I definitely agree, supercharger. There are ways to be a healthy meat eater, just as there are ways to be a healthy vegetarian. There are also ways to be an unhealthy meat eater, just as there are ways to be an unhealthy vegetarian.
I also think there are ways to enjoy unhealthy foods in moderation. Getting a meal from McDonald's once a month is not going to kill you if you generally eat healthily and get a fair amount of physical activity in. As someone said earlier, everything in moderation. (And you can't take my ice cream from me, no matter how unhealthy it is!)
24I always crave steaks and prime rib. I am the worst girl to take out to dinner, because I will fully order the 18 oz bloody prime rib.
So anyway, Dave, how about some steak?
25I need to type faster!
26I love steak salad. Medium rare. When you cut out the starch and just have protein and veggies it's the best energy boost there is. Although I do LOVE my starches...but it always puts me in a carb coma.
27Oh right, and we all know people who say things like, "my great-grandma smoked two packs a day and lived until she was 90!" I'm just talking about on average vegetarians weigh less (NOTE I DID NOT SAY SKINNY) and considering obesity is an issue in America, that isn't a bad thing. I'm not looking down on anyone's diet, I am responding directly to the statement that vegetarians are unhealthy. Sure, anyone can be an unhealthy vegetarian, but if you are going to just look at studies, and numbers, and not your best friend who ate chips and soda every day for lunch, then on average they are healthier.
Michelin- "human bodies evolved to eat meat." Technically, we are omnivores, some animals (cats come to mind) are strict carnivores, they must eat meat. Humans do not need to. Funny how people who don't follow a vegetarian diet can be such experts on it...
Sorry to be so defensive, it's just that if you choose to eat meat, it's because you like to, not because you can't be healthy. I am so sick of munching on my tofu and veggies and being told by someone eating chicken fried steak that I"m unhealthy. It's a good choice that I made, it's good for the environment and it's good for me, and if you don't want to do it, then blame it on yourself, and not vegetarianism in general.
And please, check out the Bittman article I linked. I mean, the man is a chef who frequently prepares and occasionally eats meat. My bf, a self-proclaimed "meatatarian" has cut his consumption down to a few times a week, which is what the UK is suggesting, and really isn't an awful idea.
28So true about the carb comas, HF.
I consider myself really lucky because I generally don't like starches at all, so I don't get those pasta/bread cravings.
29I know I have said this before, but there is nothing that tastes better than a cow, or pig, or chicken that you have raised and slaughtered yourself, I know that sounds all Ted Nugent but its the truth.
Just like catching a fish and eating it tastes different than going to publix and buying it.
30
31anyway- the issue here isn't whether vegetarianism is good or bad, it's whether it would be a good idea to cut back animal consumption. It makes me sad that anytime it is suggested to cut back on the number of animals you eat, that people automatically start dissing vegetarianism.
The point: You're missing it. Grrr.
32Snowbunny, I understand your frustration, but you have to look at it from the other side as well. I am so sick of eating my salad full of vegetables and grilled chicken with fat-free dressing while drinking water and being told by someone eating a salad with full-fat dressing and three different kinds of cheese who is drinking soda that I'm unhealthy. There are people on both sides who don't bother to examine what it truly healthy.
33My statement was that we evolved to eat meat, not that we evolved to eat only meat. I'll agree that vegetarians get harassed a lot by non-vegetarians for the choices they've made. Neither group has a right to look down their noses at people who have made other choices.
But I would argue that if you chose to be a vegetarian, it's not for your health, it's because you like it (or don't like eating meat). Because, like I said, it's easier to be healthy eating meat.
34I have to say that I don't hear non-vegetarians dissing vegetarians half as much as I hear vegetarians routinely dissing non-vegetarians.
35Steak sounds great Jude. There's a great steak buffet place just down the road. I ususally end up eating like 24oz of steak, so I don't go very often.
36Did you just say "steak BUFFET"?
Lead on!
37Michelin- perhaps we evolved to allow us to process meat proteins, but humans simply don't need to eat meat. It's a choice that people make.
lilkimbo- I agree that there are unhealthy meat-eaters and unhealthy vegetarians, but on average vegetarians have a lower risk of developing heart disease and cancer, and lower body weights. The thing is, this post wasn't even ABOUT vegetarianism, and automatically we get people like Undave absolutely blasting vegetarianism, or people saying it isn't healthy, when it absolutely is. It is just depressing to me, and really, offensive.
38Ummmm....Olbermann and Matthews just got replaced by David Gregory on MSNBC. I know it's not related...just thought you guys should know.
39I'm not surprised. I think MSNBC is trying to maintain some semblance of the idea that they aren't biased. Good for them.
40Like, why int he world are people talking about steak buffets right now? After citizen linked an article showing the benefits of eating less meat, why is this okay? I am not doing the same thing to you guys, regardless of how much you want to pretend non-vegetarians diss vegetarians more. In the same BREATH the same posters are saying, "vegetarians are critical of my diet! Steak buffets!"
41In UD's defense. He didn't blast vegetarians. He was just making a joke. I can see though that this is an issue you feel very strongly about so I can understand the hyper-sensitivity.
42I guess I didn't see UnDave bashing vegetarians. I still don't.
43Stop eating my ribs, my steak, my wings? Ummm right it will take the Lord himself coming to me and telling me to stoppp to convince me that meat is bad. Meat is AWESOME!!
44I don't see how talking about steak buffets is critical of vegetarians.
45How does a steak buffet work precisely? I am intrigued by this idea.
46I guess he didn't, just stuff like this:
"I'm thinking about becoming a meatatarian. I know it's a personal choice, and it's going to be hard to stick with it. I'm willing to make the sacrifice. Anyone else with me?"
Drives me a little crazy. Oh well, off to class.
47It just bugs me that instead of reacting to the UN's warning, or reading the Bittman article, people are like "steak! yum!" As though any suggestion about their eating habits, regardless of if it can really help the environment, etc. is ridiculous.
48I can definitely understand your frustration as a vegetarian, snowbunny, but think about it from the other perspective. Don't you think non-vegetarians have a right to be offended as well to be characterized by vegetarians like you this way:
"I am so sick of people eating their freaking cheeseburgers in front of me"
"I am so sick of munching on my tofu and veggies and being told by someone eating chicken fried steak"
Neither choice is inherently healthy or unhealthy, and yes, it must be offensive to be constantly told that your diet choices are automatically unhealthy, but it is also offensive to some of us to be characterized as cheeseburger/chicken-fried-steak-munching buffoons.
Again, as I say, I think vegetarians diss non-vegetarians with lines like that far more than non-vegetarians attack vegetarians.
Oh, and HF, I saw something about that earlier. Interesting! MSNBC does truly continue to be the Lohan family of news
49I have friend who just became vegetarian and is pissing all of us with her righteousness. It's so annoying how superior she is about how healthy she is but she has gained weight and weighs the same as moi the unhealthy meateater does. It gave me days of ammo when I found out.
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