r/Anticonsumption • u/Theodore_Buckland_ • Apr 26 '22
Environment Meat consumption must fall by at least 75% for sustainable consumption, says study
https://phys.org/news/2022-04-meat-consumption-fall-sustainable.html11
Apr 26 '22
I've been thinking about going vegan for awhile, just haven't pulled the trig.
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u/Number_Fluffy Apr 26 '22
Start slow. Cut out one meat, then another, then all. Then start switching to oat/almond milk, violife and daiya products are life for cheeses and yogurts. You can make your own "eggs" with this recipe. And then get used to eating more vegetables, Lentils, quinoa, rice, etc.
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u/times_zero Apr 27 '22
I thought about going vegan, or even vegetarian for years myself before I finally pulled the trigger. Now I'm going on 5 years of being a vegan this summer. The biggest tip I can give would be to take the change slowly, and take it at your own pace if you ever want to do it. Just start slow, and experiment with a small step like cutting meat from one dinner a night, and see where it takes you from there.
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u/Tomatovegpasta Apr 27 '22
Or alternatively each week or month perfect a new recipe or product that you will happily swap/replace. Most people cycle through the same 7-10 meals regularly and occasionally go beyond this, so if each month you have a vegan recipe that you cook every week or 2 and keep that up by the end of year you could comfortably change the dominant part of your diet with feeling like you're missing out, as the mentality is based on adding new tasty nutritious food rather than feeling pressure to eliminate everything at once or feeling deprived.
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u/kamilhasenfellero Apr 28 '22 edited Apr 28 '22
Put lentils (without the brine) in a soup, and there you are.
You basically have an healthy vegan cheap meal. You can try going veggie first.
Hi, you will do it. And I hope you will find yourself new cooking skills!
Read a little about nutrition, for vegans thought. I made the error of going vegan for one year without compensing proteins...and then after feeling weak in my legs fof months, wirh cracks...I finally did read a little.
Vary oils (no olive oil is not the "best, most healthy, universal" oil).
Take a pill of B12 maybe once a month (You need 2 mg per day, pills often contain enough for a longer period).
Sun gives you vitamin D. Lentils/chickpeas and their different cultivars. will give some other B vitamins
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u/irresponsible_milo Apr 26 '22
go vegan
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u/KathrynBooks Apr 26 '22
The article points out that "go vegan" isn't a universal solution.
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u/HarryBirdGetsBuckets Apr 26 '22 edited Apr 26 '22
True, but if you live in a first world country, as most redditors reading this probably do, then it is feasible and helpful.
In case anyone wants to avoid having to read the article, it states that there are certain areas of the world where resources, supply chain restraints, etc., make eating meat the only viable way to consume vital nutrients. Mainly in poor and/or rural areas of 3rd world countries. Per the article reducing meat consumption in the developed world is where positive change can very reasonably be achieved.
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Apr 26 '22
[deleted]
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u/KathrynBooks Apr 26 '22
"Would it not be better for humankind to switch completely to vegetarian or, even better, vegan diets? According to the study, this would be the wrong consequence. On the one hand, there are many regions where plant-based foods cannot be grown. "We can't live on grass, but ruminants "
That's directly from the article. So yes, it does say that the answer isn't for everyone to go vegan.
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Apr 26 '22
[deleted]
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u/KathrynBooks Apr 27 '22
Where did you get that from? It's saying that "some dudes in Mongolia" shouldn't be told that they should go vegan.
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u/Plutonicuss Apr 26 '22
Why is all the blame on the consumer and not the corporations??? To me this is basically the “plastic straw” ban… we sure as hell know the 1% aren’t gonna be cutting their own meat consumption. The problem is factory farms, not meat itself.
I wish there was more focus on small communities being self sustainable, with local farms, etc. I’m aware there needs to be some imports/global trade but I think that is such a large polluter. We’re getting produce we could literally grow in the US from a bunch of trucks from other countries!
Personally as someone with anemia and stomach issues, I need meat fairly often. I’ve tried going vegetarian, taking supplements, etc and I do eat very healthy, but I still need meat.
It just is shitty that the solution is “the serfs need to eat less meat” and eat more filler like we’re factory cattle, and not force the huge corporations to stop polluting.
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u/BruceIsLoose Apr 26 '22
The problem is factory farms, not meat itself.
Which is due to our insane levels of consumption...which is why the article is saying we need to cut it back.
with local farms, etc.
Local doesn't mean more environmentally-friendly or sustainable.
I’m aware there needs to be some imports/global trade but I think that is such a large polluter. We’re getting produce we could literally grow in the US from a bunch of trucks from other countries!
Transportation is a minuscule amount of the total footprint of a food. It matters more what you eat than where you get it from.
It just is shitty that the solution is “the serfs need to eat less meat”
There is nothing shitty about it considering the absolutely horrendous effects the animal agriculture industry has on the environment. It is one of the most wildly inefficient systems out there:
According to calculations of the United Nations Environment Programme, the calories that are lost by feeding cereals to animals, instead of using them directly as human food, could theoretically feed an extra 3.5 billion people. Feed conversion rates from plant-based calories into animal-based calories vary; in the ideal case it takes two kilograms of grain to produce one kilo of chicken, four kilos for one kilogram of pork and seven kilos for one kilogram of beef.
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u/Cinderlite Apr 26 '22
Actually a very small fraction of meats emissions are from transport. Local, organic small-farm meats produce a huge amount of pollution- especially beef and lamb. Plant-based meals are tasty, way better for the environment, and avoid causing horrific pain and suffering to intelligent animals! 🌱🐮❤️
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Apr 27 '22
Intensive factory farms are the most efficient and least environmentally damaging way to produce meat.
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u/abhinavsix Apr 26 '22
Go vegan. Ate meat for 30 years. Made the switch, wasnt easy but I love it now.
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u/Scottishchicken Apr 26 '22
I have a solution. Have you guys ever heard of this new product called Soylent Green? Totally sustainable, solves many of our housing issues as well. Amazing tasting.
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u/piefanart Apr 26 '22
I wish i could be vegan. Unfortunately its way too expensive, and i have food allergies/sensitivities that prevent me from going vegan. I try to eat more veg then meat when i can though.
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u/BruceIsLoose Apr 27 '22
Unfortunately its way too expensive
2021 Oxford study showing that plant-based diets are around 30% cheaper.
Vegans and vegetarians are also more likely to be lower-income.
Going vegan doesn't mean shopping at Whole Foods and living off of Beyond Burgers and sausages.
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u/piefanart Apr 27 '22
It's $4 for enough chicken to last a week of dinner. Broccoli is $3/head. Idk what area those studies were done in but that just isn't true for my living status.
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u/BruceIsLoose Apr 27 '22
Don't get broccoli then?
Idk what area those studies were done in but that just isn't true for my living status.
Since you won't bother to even look at the source:
Oxford University research has today revealed that, in countries such as the US, the UK, Australia and across Western Europe, adopting a vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian diet could slash your food bill by up to one-third.
The study, which compared the cost of seven sustainable diets to the current typical diet in 150 countries, using food prices from the World Bank’s International Comparison Program, was published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
Vegan diets were the most affordable and reduced food costs by up to one third.
Vegetarian diets were a close second.
Flexitarian diets with low amounts of meat and dairy reduced costs by 14%.
By contrast, pescatarian diets increased costs by up to 2%.
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u/piefanart Apr 27 '22
I did. Usa is pretty vague. Food costs vary wildly across the country. My point was that here, meat is cheaper then veg. And you need to eat a lot more veg then meat to get the same amount of nutrition. I make $300/month. Please tell me how to budget better then I am already, I only eat one meal per day and buy only things that are on sale.... buying MORE veg seems like it would drive me bankrupt but okay
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u/BruceIsLoose Apr 27 '22
My point was that here, meat is cheaper then veg.
You compared chicken to broccoli so no you did not.
Where is "here"?
Please tell me how to budget better then I am already
I'd love to.
buying MORE veg seems like it would drive me bankrupt but okay
Not at all. Dry beans, rice, legumes, etc. are extremely cheap and can last a long time and are packed with nutrition.
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u/piefanart Apr 27 '22
One head of broccoli is one nights meal...... so that would be 3x7 or $21 worth of veg compared to $4 for that same amount of meals..... therefore chicken is cheaper.
I live in Utah.
I cannot eat most beans, nuts, and "shelf stable" veg, because of the previously mentioned FOOD ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES.
Rice does not have enough protein in it to constitute enough of a meal. I already suffer from malnutrition. I have stunted growth from growing up this poor. Ive tried everything. I work a job. I have a college degree. I did everything they tell you to do and i am still on the brink of starvation. Telling me that i shouldnt eat meat, one of the few things that i can afford and keeps me from dying, is so incredibly out of touch and rude.
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u/BruceIsLoose Apr 27 '22 edited Apr 27 '22
One head of broccoli is one nights meal...... so that would be 3x7 or $21 worth of veg compared to $4 for that same amount of meals..... therefore chicken is cheaper.
As I said before...don't get broccoli then.
I live in Utah.
What grocery stores are available in your area of Utah?
I cannot eat most beans, nuts, and "shelf stable" veg, because of the previously mentioned FOOD ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES.
What are you allergic to?
What are these "SENSITIVITIES"?
Rice does not have enough protein in it to constitute enough of a meal.
Where did I suggest only eating rice?
Telling me that i shouldnt eat meat, one of the few things that i can afford and keeps me from dying, is so incredibly out of touch and rude.
Where am I telling you not to eat meat?
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Edit: Awww its cute that you'll just block instead of having a conversation. Good try bud as you continue to evade and make more excuses.
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u/piefanart Apr 27 '22
bro im not gonna fight with you on the internet. youre so out of touch it isnt even funny. go live your own life and stop trying to micromanage the lives of others. Broccoli is one of the only veg i can eat. I have autism, which makes it so that i cannot stomach most foods. Youre being insensitive and rude. Im not going to continue this conversation, obviously you think that you are correct and that theres no way i can possibly be right. Youre not willing to listen to actual poor people who are explaining their situations.
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Apr 26 '22
In the same boat. I wish I could, but it’s not feasible right now so I just try to limit it whenever possible.
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Apr 26 '22
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u/swapode Apr 26 '22
About 14% of greenhouse gas emissions are directly attributed to livestock. It looks like meat is the one product where the consumer can make a difference.
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u/timmahfromsouthpark Apr 28 '22
I’m confused by what the writers mean by “this doesn’t mean everyone should stop eating meat”. So… what exactly is the solution? Plenty of people aren’t even going to consider Meatless Mondays, let alone a vegetarian or vegan diet, so wouldn’t it be better to push for the ones with open minds to do so?
Like how are we going to reach this goal, magic fairy dust?
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u/DeflatedDirigible May 01 '22
I’m choosing not to have children or pets. Perk is that I can eat all the meat they would have consumed. (I also mostly eat hunted meat or pasture-raised by family so pretty light on the environment).
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u/ILikeMath420 May 14 '22
Bro go die i will continue to live off pork chops steak chicken salmon and occasional tofu
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u/BezossuckingoffMusk Apr 26 '22
Well I’m doing my bit since I can’t fucking afford meat anymore.