August 1, 2009
Where’s the beef? Or, rather, where was it?
As I mentioned in my last Menu Plan Monday, I would like to cut back our meat consumption. There are a few reasons for this:
1. Environmental/societal impact. Meat production uses HUGE amounts of fossil fuels, water, etc. It pollutes the ground and water supplies. It is responsible for more greenhouse gases than driving cars. It’s an inefficient use of land and resources; a hamburger patty serves one person, but the amount of grain that went into that hamburger patty could feed a bunch of people. And there are lot of hungry people in the world.
2. Health. We have been brainwashed into thinking that we need meat every day, a couple of times a day, to get enough protein and stay healthy. We don’t. A plant-based diet consisting largely of whole grains, beans, legumes, and vegetables can provide all the protein we need, without all the saturated fat that has dire health consequences.
3. Animal welfare. This is what originally got me looking into this. As I’ve contemplated our emerging passion for companion animal rescue and the formation of a philosophy about how we should view and treat animals, I’ve realized that philosophy should really extend to all animals. And, currently, the animals used to produce the cheap meat (as well as eggs and dairy) that we find in supermarkets are… well… not treated like they should be, to put it mildly. Do some Googling if you want to know more.
So should we all be vegans? I don’t think that’s the answer. There are some health benefits to consuming moderate amounts of meat and dairy products. There are also some environmental benefits to raising animals, if done correctly and in the right amounts. However, raising meat responsibly, in a way that is good to both the animals and the earth, means there would be a lot less of it, and it would be more expensive. And until the market and/or government (yeah, right) makes that choice for us, we have to make the choice ourselves.
So my goal for our family is that, by reducing the amount of meat we consume, we can afford to buy responsibly-raised meat. It’s very expensive. We’re not there yet. In fact, I bought a pack of on-sale chicken breasts at Kroger this morning. But you know what? I bought just one pack, rather than stocking the freezer, because I intend to make that one pack last a while. I think a good first step is simply reducing dependence on meat and getting used to eating more whole grains and vegetables. Right now my meatless meals tend to rely on eggs or cheese, which probably isn’t really helping the problem, but maybe it can be a transitional step. (And don’t worry about Anna—I’m not proposing cutting milk out of a child’s diet!)
I used to think that being a good steward meant spending as little as possible on groceries. Now I think that maybe being a good steward means spending more on groceries, in order to support a system that respects the earth, the animals, and our own bodies.
Comments(14)
We often eat black beans and rice (although I do put a little chicken broth in with the beans for flavor), and couscous and sauteed veggies (got that idea from Denise). So that could be two nights a week for us without meat (except for the bit o chicken broth). I’ve been feeling like that’s at least a little step towards healthier eating.
About two or three years ago I decided to become a
vegetarian. I did it strictly for health reasons, mostly because I was fat. How fat? 250 lbs fat. Within 6 months I was 170 pounds and in the best shape of my life. It was not only eating healthier but also a good amount of exercise. I thought going vegetarian would be hard but it was so easy. There are so many options now adays. Most Mornngstar or Boca products are quite tasty. Sally, our almost 5 year old is not a vegetarian but prefers soy or almond milk and refuses to drink cow milk because she says that she is not a baby cow. Between the health aspects and the animal right/environmental perspective I can’t imagine looking back. I know it is not a choice for
everyone but I commend your choice to reduce the amount of meat you eat. You are teaching Anna a wonderful lesson. There are some excellent veggie cookbooks. Check your local library to see which one is right for you. The Boca meatless
crumbles can easily be substituted in spaghetti sauce and no one will ever know.
does that mean you are buying organic meat now?
we are all for that! we’ve been making the switch to organic this year. the milk tastes a hundred million times better. my favorite is the organic private selection at kroger. great value isn’t as good tasting (to me anyway).
i have a good veggie lover baked ziti recipe. it has penne, zuchinni, onion, alfredo & spaghetti sauces and mozarella. let me know if you’re interested.
and i was reading your last post. personally, i always save money when i’m buying the healthier stuff and shopping the outer parameter of the store for the fresh stuff (meat, veggies, dairy). i feel like the inside aisles (the processed stuff) is way more expensive. we’re a lot alike though-i cook from scratch a lot-which like you said is a bigger money saver. i just do it because it tastes better though!
We’re not buying organic yet; right now I’m just trying to incorporate more plants and fewer animals into our diet. Organic is so expensive! I guess I could just buy a couple of organic things a week; it would be better than nothing I suppose. I didn’t even know generic brands made organic milk. I’ll have to look into it.
I’ve been “shopping the perimeter” of the store for some time now; I’m always pleased when my cart consists of mainly stuff from the produce and dairy sections! It makes me feel good about what we’re eating.
I think one of the big problems in this country is people don’t know how to cook. I sure didn’t when we got married, but I’ve learned! If you don’t know how to take raw ingredients and turn them into something yummy, you’re stuck with the convenience foods.
I agree with everything you’ve said here. If you haven’t read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle – I highly recommend it. I can loan you my copy. It’s about a family that decided to eat just what they could grow themselves or get locally for one year. It also has lots of info on when produce comes into season, recipes, etc.
I’ve started buying organic milk, free range eggs, and I bought my first organic free range chicken on Friday.
I’ve noticed that now that my milk is so expensive, I don’t drink nearly as much of it! :) I can’t afford to buy all of my chicken this way ($20 for 4 chicken breasts!), but I will buy it here and there.
I’m just trying to make little changes here and there.
I have a lot to learn in the cooking department and the planning department (cooking after I’ve been away at work for the past 9 hours is not a joy to me).
(Turns to David)
So David, what are your thoughts on the subject?
Great food posts Jennifer! Love it!
A couple no meat, quick ideas I have used:
1 – black beans on top of brown rice. My personal favorite!!!
2 – Lentils on top of corn bread. Or pinto beans on corn bread.
Neither are really “company” meals, but beats a sandwich on busy nights.
Oh and I found raspberries at Sam’s for $3.48 for 12 oz! I’ve seen raspberries $5 for 6 oz! The same brand!!!!
(Turns back to Jim)
Are you familiar with the comedy stylings of Mr. Jim Gaffigan? (Particularly about 2:30 in.)
The absolute best way to buy is from local farmers’ markets or farm stands for food that is fresh and truly close to the land it came from. Visiting the farm also brings children ( and us) closer to knowing the grocery store isn’t really where the food comes from . Some produce ( and dairy/eggs) are grown under the same conditions as certified organic, but decided not to pay the huge gov’t certification fee. Another reason to buy from as direct a source as possible. A good read about the mass produced foods and why go vegan is Skinny B*****. Followup is Skinny B***** in the Kitchen – some tasty recipes. Beware for you all of the ‘nuts processed on machinery’ caveat.
Jennifer, the entity which benefits most from the “organic” label is the federal government. Buy local products when possible, and ask the vendors about their production methods—most will be eager to tell you. Look into a share of a coop like Heifer International. Conway has a farmer’s market, and there are some great “U-Pick” places in and around Faulkner County.
Are you thinking of a fall vegetable garden? You don’t need much space, and Anna would love it!
Oh, boy… gardening… I would LOVE to think I’m the kind of person who could grow most of the produce we need right in our own backyard. I think it would be a very responsible thing to do. But I also know it just isn’t going to happen right now! I really would like that to be in our future,
maybe when Anna’s a little older, like 4 or 5. I just can’t add a big responsibility like that right now. Maybe in a couple of years I can take a community class on gardening or something and get started thinking about it. Let me tell you, a LOT is going to have to change about me and David for us to be gardeners!
It also isn’t going to happen in our current yard unless we take out a tree; the yard is mostly shade. It’s also mostly underwater (like the rest of Conway) when it rains, so we would have to build a raised bed and haul in a lot of dirt.
If you’ve got flowers in pots, you can have all the lettuce you can eat this fall! Ditto for herbs & edible flowers, also carrots & radishes. I’ve seen photos on this site of your flowerpots & Stella D’Oros, Jennifer, you could SO do this!
Oh yeah, the picture of the Stellas… see, it’s my occasional shining moments that make people think I’m a good gardener! You should see the pitiful state of my flower beds NOW!
Pots may be a good way to start. I didn’t know you could grow lettuce and carrots in pots. I did try to grow herbs in pots this year, and three out of five are still alive, so I guess that’s not too bad for a first attempt.