We Americans are eating less meat — which should be good, health-wise as well as (increased exports aside) environment-wise. Not so good, maybe, for the meat industry.
As to "why," the answer seems to be a combination of increased prices for meat in difficult times, and, perhaps, increased health consciousness.
Again, at least the latter is a good thing.
I've been trying to consider whether we're eating less meat. We might be, though I don't think we've cut back by a huge amount. We are eating more veggies (esp. with Margie's veggie box delivery), and that may well be displacing some meat from our diets. #ddtb
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We're Eating Less Meat. Why?
Studies and reports suggest a variety of reasons for the decline in American meat consumption, but one explanation is simple and obvious.
We try to eat less meat. We try to have at least one meatless dinner night…sometimes we only eat meat once a week depending on what is in the pantry. It was started as just a healthy habit since eating too much meat (esp red meat) isn’t supposed to be good for you…but it has gotten where non-processed meat is expensive. It can be $15 – $20 just for enough for me and DH and I am not even counting when we have steaks. It has become a monetary thing now. I can buy 5 cans of something to make a bean chili for a fraction of the cost of having meat just one night…and we can eat that chili for a day or two.
I don’t buy a lot of meat because I can’t afford it. I do eat a lot of eggs, which make a cheap meal, even if you get good Omega 3 eggs. Fortunately, I don’t have a lipid problem.
I’ll get back to you when I’ve read the article, but cost and health concerns are only two major factors out of several, overall.
•The “factory farmed meat” situation offends an awful lot of people, and pork, or beef from cattle that are humanely raised and appropriately fed are indeed more expensive.
•To a lot of older people, who can remember when chicken, beef, and pork all tasted richer, and were not so lean as to eliminate taste, don’t want to eat tasteless meat.
•More vegetarians, vegans, and “nothing cute/with eyes” are not eating meat. I wonder if the latter eat root vegetables…
The author asks:
is anyone in this country eating more meat than they used to?
Why, yes, and I know a few. Those who have gone on ultra-low-carb diets (some for life: our friend Rowan’s perennially upset gut calmed down to the point where she can drink coffee and eat tomatoes, but grains, legumes, and sugars of any source, are right out of her diet. Apparently, those are what were irritating her gut), those who are following the “paleo diet”, and those in the first phase of Atkins/South Beach diets.