Americans eat a lot of meat, including chicken, beef and pork. And the rest of the world is starting to follow in our footsteps. According to the US Department of Agriculture, Americans ate a record amount of meat and poultry last year — 138.4 pounds of it per person, on average, placing Americans at or near the top of per capita global levels.
But there’s a growing number of peoplewho are interested in eating less meat.
Industrially producing meat takes a huge toll on the environment, using enormous amounts of resources like land, crops, water, energy while producing a colossal amount of carbon dioxide-equivalent gases. It’s also terrible for animals, and devastating for people who live and work in the communities around the factory farms.
One way we can decrease our foodprint— the impact of our food production on the environment, animals andpeople — is to eat pasture-raised, rather than factory farm-raised, animal products and to eat much less of them. We call this approach the “less meat, better meat” strategy.
Step 1: Buy Pasture-raised Meats
Before we talk about the amount of meat you’re eating, we need to talk about how the meat was produced. There is a big difference between pasture-raised meat and industrially produced meat. Pasture-raised animals spend their time eating vegetation, unconfined and able to express their natural behaviors. Animals raised in an industrial system,in “CAFOs,” are kept in barns, cages and lots, and fed a grain-based “feed.” These confined systems are often inhumane and have disastrous effects on soil, water and climate.
Farmers who produce pasture-raised meat can use field, livestock and waste management techniques that reduce the emissions that come from animals’ manure.In fact, it’s even possible for well-pastured beef to “sequester” a significant proportion of carbon produced on the farm (hold it in the soil), making a negative carbon benefit possible.
Plus, pasture-raised meat isn’t just better for the environment, it’s better for animals and better for eaters, too. So to start this project right — eating less meat, that is — pay attention first to what meat you’re buying.
You can find information about various meat labels in our Food Label Guide, and read more about the process and the benefits of pasture-raised meat here.
Addressing the Higher Cost of Better Meat
Pastured-raised animal products are often more expensive than the conventional, industrial meat sold in most grocery stores,but consumers can use the money saved from buyinglessmeat to purchase better meat (and more produce, legumes, etc.). And while it doesn’t change your weekly grocery bill, it is also worth remembering that paying more for pasture-raised meats means paying for the food’s “true cost,” including environmental and health benefits.
If you cannot afford to buy or cannot locate better, pastured meat, you can focus your efforts solely on eating less meat.
Step 2: Eat Less Meat
You have some sustainably raised meat in hand, two slices of really good bacon, perhaps. Now you’re going to use it thoughtfully.
Think Flavor
Here are some ideas for using meat for its flavor instead of for filling you up. Two strips of bacon, or two chicken thighs or a small ham hock, say, could flavor a meal for your whole family.
- Ham hocks or bacon to flavor soups, stews, beans and more.
- Bits of bacon or sausage to flavor your favorite pasta dishes.
- Small chunks of chicken or sausage on a salad.
- Blended Bolognese or blended burgers (part beef, part mushroom).
- Any one of these 16 Not-Quite-Meatless Recipes from Mark Bittman. Stretch a small piece of meat by using it in veggie-powered tacos or as vegetable-laden pizza topping or as chunks on a kebab.
Smaller Portions of Meat
The traditional “American” diet has often consisted of a large chunk of meat, with other stuff like vegetables and starches — “sides” — around it. And while the USDA’s dietary recommendation, via their graphic “MyPlate,” might have evolved to have protein play a smaller role, the reality of a lot of lunch and dinner plates is: meat is still the star. In the South, this style of eating has led to a whole style of restaurant commonly known as “meat ‘n three.”
But everyone knows it’s all about the sides, so why not make the sides the center?
Or go ALL sides and have them be greens flavored with meat. Or green beans in pork stock (h/t Edna Lewis for both of these).
The Protein Question
If you’re worried about the health ramifications of shrinking that portion of meat, keep in mind: you really do not need to be eating so much meat. Many people are worried about getting enough protein, likely because food marketers have been pushing protein on us for a few years now, adding it to bars, shakes, cereal and more. Many people are eating about 100 grams a day, which is aboutdouble the daily recommendationof 46 grams for women and 56 grams for men.
Top photo by dubravina / Adobe Stock
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I am a dedicated advocate for sustainable and conscious eating practices, particularly focusing on the environmental and ethical implications of our food choices. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, hands-on experience, and a deep understanding of the interconnected issues related to food production, agriculture, and their impact on the planet.
The article discusses the significant consumption of meat in the United States and the global trend of increasing meat consumption. It highlights the environmental toll of industrial meat production, emphasizing the depletion of resources, environmental degradation, and the negative effects on both animals and communities surrounding factory farms. To address these concerns, the article proposes a solution termed the "less meat, better meat" strategy.
Key Concepts:
1. Less Meat, Better Meat Strategy:
- Definition: A conscious approach to reduce the environmental and ethical impact of meat consumption by choosing pasture-raised meats over factory farm-raised ones and consuming less meat overall.
- Rationale: Aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of industrial meat production on the environment, animals, and communities.
2. Pasture-Raised vs. Industrial Meat Production:
-
Pasture-Raised:
- Animals spend time outdoors, eating vegetation.
- Unconfined and able to express natural behaviors.
- Farmers use sustainable field, livestock, and waste management techniques.
- Potential for carbon sequestration, contributing to a negative carbon benefit.
-
Industrial (CAFOs - Confined Animal Feeding Operations):
- Animals confined in barns, cages, and lots.
- Fed a grain-based diet.
- Associated with inhumane conditions and detrimental effects on soil, water, and climate.
3. Addressing the Higher Cost of Better Meat:
- Cost Consideration:
- Pasture-raised meats are often more expensive than conventional, industrial meats.
- Consumers can allocate money saved from buying less meat towards purchasing higher quality, pasture-raised options.
- Acknowledges the "true cost" of food, including environmental and health benefits.
4. Eating Less Meat:
- Sustainable Consumption:
- Emphasizes using sustainably raised meat thoughtfully for flavor.
- Suggestions include using small amounts of meat to flavor meals for the whole family.
- Encourages creative and mindful approaches to meat consumption.
5. Protein Consumption and Health Considerations:
- Protein Intake:
- Challenges the perception that excessive meat consumption is necessary for adequate protein intake.
- Notes that the daily protein recommendation is lower than what many people consume.
- Encourages a balanced and mindful approach to protein consumption.
In conclusion, the article advocates for a holistic shift in meat consumption patterns, promoting environmentally friendly and ethically sourced pasture-raised meats, and encouraging a reduction in overall meat consumption for the benefit of the planet and individual well-being.
