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AIBU?

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Original poster

How much meat do you eat?

379 replies

lanya · 16/05/2024 16:01

Recently I've noticed in my circles that pretty much everyone is cutting back on meat due to environmental/ climate reasons.

Most people I know aren't vegetarian, but are more aware/ more careful about the amount they eat, e.g. only once or twice per week.

I am wondering whether this is the case generally across the UK, or if most people are carrying on as normal?

YABU: We are eating the same amount of meat as we always have.
YANBU: We have reduced our meat intake over the last few years for climate reasons.

Disclaimer: This isn't any kind of brag or meant to be condescending - I'm just curious.

OP posts:
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10
DeerRiverView · 16/05/2024 16:47

Zero for 30+ years

I also do not eat things like vegetarian bacon, veggie burgers, veggie sausages, quorn

catlady7 · 16/05/2024 16:47

lanya · 16/05/2024 16:42

@catlady7 I wouldn't give up steak either and most people I know haven't. It's sometimes just what you need to hit the spot. But most people I know have reduced it. I probably have it twice a year, same for bacon.

I have it weekly. All my circle does

GordonBlue · 16/05/2024 16:47

catlady7 · 16/05/2024 16:43

I had beef last night and it was delicious

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Beef tastes good.

Also, every steak you eat = one less person trampled to death by cows.

MartinsSpareCalculator · 16/05/2024 16:46

JeysusH · 16/05/2024 16:43

I'm convinced that a local, seasonal diet is the best bet environmentally, so that's how I eat. I live in sheep farming country, it's not the land for crops round here, all the meat I buy from the butchers is local and free range or organic, game in season. I have a weekly vegetable box, again, seasonal and local, also get eggs, honey, bread, cheese, milk and various other local produce with it.

I order fish and seafood online, all from UK waters, all seasonally available and whatever is the most sustainable available.

I'm pretty sure that's a more environmentally friendly diet than almond milk and freighted vegetables.

This is exactly what I do. I bought a lamb from a smallholding around the corner, butchered ready and it's in my freezer. I do the same with poultry and beef when I can get it.
I have whatever fruit and veg is in season. My milk comes from the farm half a mile from my house and my eggs from my hens.
I get my fish direct from market so again it is seasonal and fresh caught.
Sustainability is important to me. But cutting out meat is generally not the way to a more sustainable diet.

catlady7 · 16/05/2024 16:46

Only in coffee*

YorkNew · 16/05/2024 16:46

Less than I used to, I just seemed to have gone off it. I’m more into eggs and yogurt at the moment. I still like fish and seafood.

catlady7 · 16/05/2024 16:45

Auburngal · 16/05/2024 16:42

Love hazelnuts like in Nutella etc. Bought some hazelnut milk - its vile.

If I had to suddenly give up dairy - oat milk for me,

I had to go dairy free for my daughter. Oat milk is OK. Can't drink it on its own.

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 16/05/2024 16:44

GordonBlue · 16/05/2024 16:41

I eat approximately one cow per week.

😆

JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods · 16/05/2024 16:43

Haven't eaten meat for 30 years
I do eat fish though & my kids & DH eat meat most days

catlady7 · 16/05/2024 16:43

GordonBlue · 16/05/2024 16:41

I eat approximately one cow per week.

I had beef last night and it was delicious

mapleriver · 16/05/2024 16:43

Once every two weeks, I eat alot of eggs though.

JeysusH · 16/05/2024 16:43

I'm convinced that a local, seasonal diet is the best bet environmentally, so that's how I eat. I live in sheep farming country, it's not the land for crops round here, all the meat I buy from the butchers is local and free range or organic, game in season. I have a weekly vegetable box, again, seasonal and local, also get eggs, honey, bread, cheese, milk and various other local produce with it.

I order fish and seafood online, all from UK waters, all seasonally available and whatever is the most sustainable available.

I'm pretty sure that's a more environmentally friendly diet than almond milk and freighted vegetables.

Original poster
lanya · 16/05/2024 16:42

@catlady7 I wouldn't give up steak either and most people I know haven't. It's sometimes just what you need to hit the spot. But most people I know have reduced it. I probably have it twice a year, same for bacon.

OP posts:
eekwhatnow · 16/05/2024 16:42

We eat about one meat meal a week, the rest vegetarian. Health and environmental reasons

Auburngal · 16/05/2024 16:42

Love hazelnuts like in Nutella etc. Bought some hazelnut milk - its vile.

If I had to suddenly give up dairy - oat milk for me,

GordonBlue · 16/05/2024 16:41

I eat approximately one cow per week.

Auburngal · 16/05/2024 16:40

Most of the meat in my freezer has a reduced sticker. I don't buy every meat with reduced stickers such as 23% fat mince (blurgh) or pork belly. Not a fan on very fatty meat.

catlady7 · 16/05/2024 16:40

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Nothing :)

Original poster
lanya · 16/05/2024 16:40

Despite the arguments on this thread so far it is quite heartening to see current poll results that 40% of people are eating less meat.

OP posts:
Horsewhisperers · 16/05/2024 16:40

I eat less processed meat and mostly white meat now, for taste and health. The rest of the family eats large portions of all kinds of meat. The men would be unwilling to eat a veggie meal more than occasionally.
I would be okay to be veggie but not vegan, as I have not found any other milk to taste nice and do like eggs and cheese.

SingleSexSafeSpace · 16/05/2024 16:40

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

catlady7 · 16/05/2024 16:39

WittiestUsernameEver · 16/05/2024 16:37

That's not always the case...

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Well it is :) I'm not going to change my diet

BiologicsBeforeIdeology · 16/05/2024 16:39

Auburngal · 16/05/2024 16:37

My meat/fish intake remains pretty much the same over the last few years. Sometimes, I have a meat free day - not planned but just happens on what I fancy. Like today - breakfast - cereal, lunch - cheese and crackers. Evening meal - gnocchi with salad.

I was a vegetarian for about 9 months aged 16-17 and even with extra vitamins, I felt tired, prone to colds and not with it. After introducing meat back into my diet gradually - a ham sandwich upwards. Within a few weeks I was back to myself. From what I remember vegetarians lack in iron which helps pump oxygen around your blood.

Notice past couple of years Veganary isn't a big thing anymore as we get more vegan stuff in January and as a code checker, reduce more of this. Is it the price? Is it the minging looking meat alternatives? Veggie bacon looks minging.

Thatjust means you ate really poor meals - not that you need meat

Mairzydotes · 16/05/2024 16:38

To answer your initial question I probably eat the same amount of meat as always. Which is most days. Although most of it is frozen ,rather than fresh, which is a cost reason.

BiologicsBeforeIdeology · 16/05/2024 16:38

NoSquirrels · 16/05/2024 16:20

Locally raised meat, treated ethically at every life stage, is not the sort of farming that’s killing the planet. Is it really so terrible for an animal to be eaten for meat after it’s dead? All living things die. It’s the quality of their life (and death) that counts.

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After it's dead? No. But you don't eat roadkill do you, you don't eat wild animals that just dropped dead. You specifically go out of your way to kill a sentient creature. Knowingly .